The Bedtime Scientist

A question

What is DNA?

A calm, true answer. Then, if the wondering keeps going, the whole episode.

The short answer

A set of instructions for building and running a living thing, written in an alphabet of only four letters: A, T, C and G. Almost every cell in you carries a complete copy.

Stretched out, the DNA from a single one of your cells would be about two metres long, folded small enough to be invisible. You got half your recipe from each parent, and you share a surprising amount of it with a banana.

Go deeper tonight

Genes & DNA: What Makes You... You

The full episode, in one calm voice, with nothing that startles.

The episode

Genes & DNA: What Makes You... You

0:00 8:30
Sleep timer

Read the guide for this one in the morning.

This connects to

Patterns Living bodies

One idea turns up in many different nights. Follow one and the library starts to join up.