Genes Why is DNA important? All of the characteristics that you have are affected by the DNA that you have in your cells. It controls the color of your eyes, the color of your hair, and whether or not you can digest milk. These characteristics are called traits. How traits appear in you depends on the kinds of pro- teins your cells make. DNA stores the blueprints for making proteins. Proteins are made of units called amino acids that are linked together in a certain order. A pro- tein may be made of hundreds or thousands of amino acids. Changing the order of the amino acids changes the kind of protein made. \The section of DNA on a chromosome that directs the mak- ing of a specific protein is called a gene, Genes control proteins that build cells and tissues and work as ‘enzymes. Think about what might happen if an important protein couldn’t be made in your cells. COI) Th Dna testing, scientists isolate DNA from the blood or other biological material found at the scene of a crime. They also isolate DNA taken from the suspect involved. Both samples are treated with enzymes that cut the DNA into small frag- ments. The length of the fragments depends on the sequence of nitrogen bases in the DNA. The sequence of nitrogen bases differs from person to person. A set of fingerprints? The DNA fragments from both samples can be subjected to a technology that displays selected DNA fragments as bands. The markers on the bands from an individual can provide a DNA fingerprint. The probability that two people who, are not identical twins would have the same set of marks is very small. The autoradiograph pictured below is the type of evidence that is presented to juries. Juries are so influenced by this kind of scientific data that legal experts insist that the evidence should be flawless before itis adi ted. Think Critically: 1s the probability of two persons having the same DNA small enough for a jury to convict a suspect? Explain your answer. 4-3DNA 107