DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the information molecule needed for life on Earth; it’s what makes each species unique. Encoded within it are all the instructions for building all the parts for every organism, from elaborately patterned butterfly wings to fat cells that build up around the abdomens of humans. The discovery of DNA as the molecule of heredity opened up new worlds of science and medical possibilities that we are still beginning to realize, as scientists use it for everything from understanding genetic disorders to fine-tuning vaccine design.
