Answer 1:
This is such a great question! There are many
different living organisms on earth (animals,
plants, fungi, protists, bacteria) and there are
so many different ways that each one organizes
its genetic information. DNA is the blueprint
that contains all the instructions for
development and function of an entire living
organism! A chromosome is just an organized
structure that helps protect DNA from damage. As
humans, we have 46 chromosomes (23 from our mom
and 23 from our dad). Elephants actually have 56
chromosomes! Just for fun here is a list of some
other organisms and the numbers of chromosomes
in each:
| Organism |
# of chromosomes |
|---|
| Human |
46 |
| Elephant |
56 |
| Woolly Mammoth |
58 |
| Kangaroo |
16 |
| Turkey |
80 |
| Mosquito |
6 |
| Rice that you eat |
24 |
| Yeast |
32 |
| Slime Mold |
12 |
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