The Bedtime Scientist

Episode guide

Genes & DNA: What Makes You... You

Inside almost every one of your cells is a curled-up letter written in a four-letter alphabet. This episode reads a little of it aloud, slowly.

The science, gently

  • DNA uses just four letters, A, T, C, and G, to write the recipe for a whole person.
  • Stretched out, the DNA in a single one of your cells would be about two meters long.
  • You share half your recipe with each parent, and a surprising amount with a banana.

Wonder together

  • Which parts of you feel most like each of your parents?
  • If your cells carry a recipe, what do you think the rarest ingredient is?
  • What would you write into your recipe, if you could add one line?

Tonight's calm-down

Every cell in you already knows what to do tonight: rest, repair, grow. You do not have to supervise. Close your eyes and let two meters of quiet instructions do their gentle work.