If you unravel all of the 46 chromosomes and stretch a single strand of DNA it would stretch to an equivalent length of 2 metres. These make proteins that go on to make up a living thing. DNA is made of 2 sets of 23 chromosomes and most every single cell contains DNA consisting of 20000 - 25000 genes. If you think that just by using binary code such as in Morse Code you can write all the works of Shakespeare. Four letters make up the DNA of life on Earth and naturally stores its information in just four key chemicals - guanine, cytosine, adenine and thymine, commonly referred to as G, C, A and T. GENES: Cells contain a recipe manual for making proteins - we know this as Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Cells were discovered by Robert Hooke who noticed moving cells in water through a microscope (I think) and we now know that cells make up all life forms on this planet (plants, fungi and animals - including man). All cells look quite similar and contain mitochondria (which is similar to an amazing battery that gives our cells energy). THE CELL is the basic function of all life. He wondered how it can be different but still have and be full of purpose. Nurse was first inspired to look at this subject by observing a butterfly in his garden. The book looks at five different areas the cell, genes, life as chemistry, life as information and evolution by natural selection. This short and fascinating book looks at how and what life is. Wonderful and thought provoking short book on life
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