Video Transcript

Hi, I¡¯m Michael Maidaa, and this is, ¡°Are All DNA Molecules in a Human the Same?¡± This is true. In every single cell in the human body, it contains the same DNA molecule. However, depending on where the cell is, different genes will be expressed. So, although we have the same DNA, several different genes will be expressed depending on what type of cell it is. So, here we may have a red blood cell, for example. Over here, we may have a neuron. In both cells, we have the same DNA. However, depending on what we need expressed, it¡¯ll make the cell different. So, in the red blood cell, it may express genes one, three, and four, which turn it into a red blood cell. However, for the neuron, we may heavily express genes five, nine, and 12, making it a neuron. So, how does the cell know what genes to express? This is due to the different factors and concentration gradients that it¡¯s exposed to, depending where in the body you are. So, to recap: every cell contains the same DNA. However, depending what kind of cell it is, it¡¯ll express different genes, which lead to different functions. I¡¯m Michael Maidaa, and this has been, ¡°Are All DNA Molecules in a Human the Same?¡±