How can your DNA take 17 trips to Pluto and back and still prove you’re almost a clone of your neighbor?
The human genome (the genetic code in each human cell) contains 23 DNA molecules (called chromosomes), each containing from 500,000 to 2.5 million nucleotide pairs. DNA molecules of this size are 1.7 to 8.5 cm long when uncoiled — about 5 cm on average There are about 37 trillion cells in the
human body, so if you were to uncoil all of the DNA encased in each cell and place the molecules end to end, it would sum to a total length of 2×1014 meters — enough for 17 round trips to Pluto (the distance from the sun to Pluto and then back again is 1.2×1013 meters). As a bonus, you should know that we each share more than 99% of our DNA with every other human — just to show that we’re far more alike than different.
Because even with that incredible journey, your DNA is still 99% identical to your neighbor’s. Isn’t that amazing? #GeneticJourn
Source– zmescience.com
