What does DNA stand for? How can I explain this answer to a curious 6 year old?

1. 66

   KrystalDposted 12 years ago

   What does DNA stand for? How can I explain this answer to a curious 6 year old?
   
   

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2. 60

   MartyCTposted 12 years ago

   Id explain (deoxyribonucleic acid) DNA like this.
   
   DNA are like legos.  Each person and animal, has teeny tiny blocks inside them that make it look the way it does.  Just like if you build a car with legos, it looks different from how a gun made of legos looks.  This is how a person, and a dog looks different, our legos aren't put together in the same way.  So when you are born, your body knows you must look like a person because its sees how the legos of mom and dad look like and makes you look the same.
   
   Lol It sounds better in my head than when I read it above, but I'd try break it down into a game or toy that they would understand.

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3. 78

   TFScientistposted 12 years ago

   DNA may be complicated, but it can still be understood by all. Look at some analogies, diagrams and science behind the molecule of life, DNA read more

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4. 73

   MrMaranathaposted 12 years ago

   Easiest and best answer for a 6 year old:  "Honey... DNA means Do NOT Ask!!!  Because I don't know!" 
   
   But then you could laugh with them... and tell them that you will be happy to go and look it up in the book with them... and you can go and have yourself some fun in the towns library... and find answers to more of your little darlings questions while you are there.
   Just remember to keep a note pad and pen with you on the trip.. because they will be talking the whole way to the library... and you might want to write down the rest of their questions...
   Enjoy your Adventure.

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5. 61

   ContentThreadsposted 12 years ago

   DNA stands for Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid.
   
   Little difficult to explain to a 6 year old, but it is important to answer to their curious questions as it plays important role in their education and growth.
   
   You can tell them that:
   
   It is a string made up of small beads (genes) that decides how you are gonna look. As you see everybody in the world looks different, this is because everyone have a unique DNA. Parents give their DNA designs to their children, so they look similar to them.
   
   In short you can call it Your diagram designed by Almighty!!!
   
   Hope I helped.
   
   Choose any answer but do tell your little one about it, because the future is all about biotechnology and science is going to explore it in depth. And you can also show him/her the picture of the spiral DNA strand.

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6. 0

   Ronin2012posted 12 years ago

   DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid.For a 6 year old you can say that i(DNA) is a type of body structure/civil engineer who stores all the plans and layouts about how our body should be what features would we have like skin color,pupils color,hairs,nose and everything.

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7. 55

   poetvixposted 12 years ago

   I would tell the child the truth.  DNA are tiny little chains of instructions that tell your body how you should grow and determine things like your hair color, eye color and so on.  Further, be sure to tell the child that it is up to them to be sure to treat their body well so that it can build finely what the DNA has instructed.  It’s a great lead in to “that’s why you should eat your veggies.”  After the explanation you might want to show the child some pictures from the internet.  The clip from early on in the “Jurassic Park” movie where the park owner shows a cartoon that explains DNA would be good and keep the child’s interest.  It’s also a great way to introduce the youngster to his first microscope so that he can see tiny things for himself.  While he will not be able to see DNA, he can see other really fun stuff.  Toy manufactures have made children’s microscopes for years.  They are affordable and a really fun way to spark an early interest in science.

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8. 0

   scottcgruberposted 12 years ago

   The video for "Cells" by They Might Be Giants is a good intro. It's cute, age-appropriate, and a catchy little song that gets the point across.

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9. 0

   msorenssonposted 11 years ago

   The answer is Deoxy Ribo Nucleic Acid. Wow, a six year old asking about it is pretty awesome.
   
   The simplest analogy is the computer. There are programs that run the computer.
   
   Computer hardware = Physical Body
   Software = DNA
   Random Access Memory = RiboNucleic Acid (aka RNA)
   Exec Functions = Proteins

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10. 59

    Annemariposted 11 years ago

    DNA means "Deoxyrobonucleic acid". Its biology.
    
    Telling a lie to a child can lead to further mishaps in future. The best way is to tell him/ her what it really is in a simple way.
    Say it's something everyone has in their body. It helps give him/her body features. So simple in the future you can explain to him/ her about DNA replication and chromosomes.
    
    For now keep it short and sweet.

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    1. 78

       TFScientistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Spelt Deoxyribonucleic Acid wrong.

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