Everything you see in the mirror-
Your height to your hair color to the dimple (or lack thereof) on your chin--is written into nearly every cell of your DNA, spiraling chains of proteins found in every cell in your body. Think of DNA as your body's instruction manual. It tells your cells how to grow into organs, hair, teeth, fingernails, tongue, and every other part of your body. St stretches of DNA(called genes) are like pages in that instruction manual. Genes control what you look like, plus less obvious traits such as whether you have perfect vision or the ability to curl your tongue.
Where did it get my genes?
While you admire your good looks in the mirror, don't forget to thank your parents. Genes come in pairs: one from mom and the other from dad. It's the combination of genes that bring about--or"express"--various physical traits(in a process called heredity).some genes are more influential on your appearance than others. The genes for dark hair are dominant over the genes for red and bold hair, making dark hair more.
Common.
Do animals have DNA?
Yes, all of them do, actually. And not just animals. Every living thing on earth--including single-celled bacteria, trees, and plants--has DNA in its cells. You might expect to share many genes with a chimpanzee or bonobo, our closest living relatives, but did you know you also share genes with that banana the chimps are chomping?
Why do some kids look less like their parents than others kids do?
You can't always guess a child's appearance just by looking at their parents. The study of genes--called genetics--is achieving break thoughts all the time. Still, much about heredity remains mysterious. Combining genes can affect other genes, leading to unpredictable characteristics or futures that lurk in the genetic background for several generations. Our genes are also riddled with so-called junk DNA that doesn't seem to express itself in any noticeable way. Environment and diet also play a large role in shaping a person's weight, skin tone, and other physical and mental characteristics.
How similar am I genetically to...
...A chimpanzee? 96-99%
Humans and chimps split from a common ancestor between 13 and 6 million years ago.
...A fruit fly? 60%
Consider this the next time you swat that itty-bitty bug buzzing around you are cantaloupe: You and that fly are related! (So you are and the cantaloupe.)Fruit flies and humans are share many basic genes, along
Some genes might make you move vulnerable to cancer. In fact, scientists are studying fruit flies for beating cancer. 
..My pet dog? 82%
The dog might be "man's best friend," but read on for the shocking truth.
.
My pet cat? 90%
It turns out humans share more genes with felines than with fido.
A banana? 50%
No, this does not mean you are half banana. All life forms on earth share fundamental features and functions at the cellular level. Sharing half of our genes with a banana shows that we evolved from a
Common ancestor more than a billion years ago.
Why is my blood type important?
Everyone's blood contains the same basic stuff, but mixed in with that stuff are " antigens." These special proteins act as an ID tag for a person's blood, letting their body know the blood is the person's own and not a foreign invader. Antigens combination makes different blood types--eight in all--passed along from parents to a child just like eye color and other genetic traits. If you get in an accident and lose a lot of blood (or get sick and need a fresh supply), you will have to go to the hospital to get a "transfusion" of someone else's red stuff. Transfusions are simple procedures-and the most common type of hospital procedure-but they always start with the doctor determining the patient's blood type. If you get a transfusion of the wrong type, your immune system will think it's an infection and go and attack!
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