DNA Code Crackers

DNA is the blueprint for life. But how does a cell decipher and read those instructions? And can scientists also learn to read the blueprints? Virologist Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal was the first person to crack the genetic code of a deadly virus called HIV, and she used this information to discover ways to prevent the virus' spread.

With this activity from yourgenome you can also become a genetic code cracker! You can also read more about DNA sequencing in this article from Khan Academy.

Viruses are very simple and tiny germs. They are made of a shell of protein surrounding some genetic material (RNA or DNA, depending on the virus).