The world of DNA is a fascinating one; it’s by far the best and most accurate tool we have to identify someone; so it’s been used to right wrongs, solve historic mysteries and ensure justice has been done. But here are a few things you might not know about DNA:
1. The vast majority of human DNA is identical
Now with all the chatter about our DNA being unique, what you might not realize is that the vast majority of human DNA is identical. That’s right 99.9% of your DNA is identical to that of every other human on earth. It’s that miniscule 0.1% that sets us apart.
2. Parents and children
When it comes to parents and children, they share 99.5% of the same DNA.
3. In fact…
There’s an infinitesimal chance that all of your DNA will be identical to that of another person, but if that’s the case, it would usually mean you’re identical twins. However, if that person is unrelated to you, the chance is less than one in one billion – so you have a far, far greater chance of winning the lottery for example.
4. With what else do we share DNA?
It may not surprise you to learn that we share a fair amount of our DNA with chimpanzees, about 98.45% to be exact. However, there are a few other organisms with whom we share a fair amount of DNA, and some of them may surprise you. For example, we share approximately 45% of our DNA with cabbage.
5. Mesmerizing mud worm
We are also thought to share DNA with the mud worm. Yes, a long way back down the line, the mud worm and humans were somehow related.
6. The oldest human DNA
The oldest human DNA to be found and reconstructed is around 430,000 years old; it was extracted from human fossils found in Spain.
7. Ancient animal DNA
However, the oldest known animal DNA comes from a horse that lived more than 700,000 years ago.
8. Richard III and all that
Remember the puzzle of Richard III and his final resting place? Well DNA was one of the factors that helped establish that our erstwhile king was in fact buried under a car park in the center of Leicester. It has to have been one of the most fascinating historical riddles in which DNA has played a part in solving – but it’s by no means the only one.
9. Prince Philip and the Romanovs
Yes, it was HRH Prince Philip who helped solve the mystery regarding the whereabouts of the remains of the Romanovs, for back in 1998 his mitochondrial DNA was found to match some of the remains that had been found. Today, with his help, further tests are being carried out on two further sets of remains.
10. Typing from here to eternity
It’s been estimated that to type a human’s entire DNA code (or genome), would take an experienced typist working eight hours a day approximately 50 years.
Want the reassurance a DNA test would give you? Then arrange DNA testing today.
