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DNA: The Thread of Life The “thread of life”, is deoxyribonucleic acid, otherwise known as DNA. It is the spiral Shaped molecule found in the nucleus of cells. Scientists have known since 1952 that DNA is the basic substance of heredity. This was hypothesized, and later confirmed by James D. Watson and Francis Crick. They also know that it acts like a biological computer program over 3 billion bits long that “spells” out instructions for making the basic building blocks of life. DNA carries the bodies genetic code, controls the development of an embryo, is capable Of duplicating itself, and is able to repair damage to itself. DNA can be manipulated to Change all kinds of things. All DNA molecules consist of a linked series of unites called nucleotides. Each DNA nucleotide is composed of 3 subunits: a 5 carbon sugar called deoxyribose, a phosphate group that is joined to one end of the sugar molecule, and one of several different nitrogenous bases linked to the opposite end of the deoxyribose. There are 4 nitrogen bases called adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. In DNA Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine with cytosine. Medici