Who won the 2020 Nobel Prize for CRISPR gene editing?

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna

DNA and Genes Trivia Quiz – Names, Facts and Surprises

This DNA and genes trivia quiz covers the double helix, the four bases, chromosomes, genes and proteins, Watson, Crick and Franklin, the Human Genome Project and CRISPR gene editing. Ten questions bring names, facts and surprises from the code of life.

Start DNA and Genes Trivia Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Name
What does DNA stand for?
Shape
What shape is DNA?
Bases
Which base pairs with adenine in DNA?
Discovery
In which year did Watson and Crick describe the double helix?
Chromosomes
How many chromosomes do most humans have?
Genes
What do genes usually code for?
Genome
When was the Human Genome Project declared complete?
Count
About how many protein-coding genes do humans have?
CRISPR
Who won the 2020 Nobel Prize for CRISPR gene editing?
Length
If uncoiled, the DNA in one human cell would be about how long?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What does DNA stand for?
Answer: Deoxyribonucleic acid
It carries genetic instructions.
Q2: What shape is DNA?
Answer: A double helix
It looks like a twisted ladder.
Q3: Which base pairs with adenine in DNA?
Answer: Thymine
Guanine pairs with cytosine.
Q4: In which year did Watson and Crick describe the double helix?
Answer: 1953
Rosalind Franklin's X-ray data were crucial.
Q5: How many chromosomes do most humans have?
Answer: 46
They come in 23 pairs.
Q6: What do genes usually code for?
Answer: Proteins
Proteins do most jobs in cells.
Q7: When was the Human Genome Project declared complete?
Answer: 2003
A fully gapless sequence came in 2022.
Q8: About how many protein-coding genes do humans have?
Answer: About 20,000
Fewer than scientists once expected.
Q9: Who won the 2020 Nobel Prize for CRISPR gene editing?
Answer: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna
CRISPR works like molecular scissors.
Q10: If uncoiled, the DNA in one human cell would be about how long?
Answer: About 2 meters
It is packed tightly into the nucleus.

Dna And Genes Trivia Quiz – The Code of Life

DNA is the molecule that stores genetic information in almost every living thing. It is built from four chemical bases, adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine, arranged in a double helix. The order of these bases forms a code that cells read to build proteins.

Genes are sections of DNA that carry instructions for traits. Humans have about 20,000 protein-coding genes packed into 46 chromosomes. Children inherit half their chromosomes from each parent, which is why family members share traits.

Since the double helix was described in 1953, genetics has advanced rapidly. The Human Genome Project read our entire DNA sequence, and tools like CRISPR now let scientists edit genes, raising hopes for treating diseases along with important ethical questions.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for students and science fans exploring DNA.

What DNA stands for
How bases pair
Who discovered the double helix
How many chromosomes we have
What CRISPR does

Did You Know?

Humans share about 60% of genes with bananas.
Identical twins share nearly the same DNA.
DNA can survive thousands of years in bones.
Mitochondria have their own DNA.
Forensic scientists use DNA fingerprinting.