Caption

DNA molecule. Computer artwork of part of the molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) as seen from above. DNA contains all the inherited instructions necessary to produce a human being. In top view we are looking down into this long molecule which forms a spiral. Atoms are depicted as sticks and are colour-coded: carbon (grey), hydrogen (white), nitrogen (blue), oxygen (red) and phosphorous (yellow). The DNA molecule is composed of two outer strands of atoms forming a sugar-phosphate backbone twisted into a helical shape, with cross-linking nucleotide bases between them (at centre). It is the sequence of bases which makes up the genetic code as genes.