1 HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN Flashcards
What was the estimated cost to build a human body according to the Royal Society of Chemistry?
$151,578.46
This cost does not include labor and sales tax, which would increase the total significantly.
How many elements are needed to construct a human being?
Fifty-nine elements
Six elements—carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus—account for 99.1% of the human body.
Which element is the biggest component of a human body, filling 61% of available space?
Oxygen
What accounts for another 10% of the human body after oxygen?
Hydrogen
What is the approximate cost of the carbon required for a human body?
$69,550
Fill in the blank: The twenty-third most common element in the body is ______, which is toxic.
Cadmium
What is the primary purpose of DNA?
To create more DNA
How many times does a red blood cell rattle around the body?
About 150,000 times
What is the basic unit of life?
The cell
What is the longest protein in the human body?
Titin
True or False: All humans share 99.9% of their DNA.
True
How many times do humans blink on average in a day?
14,000 times
What is the total number of atoms that make up a human body?
7 billion billion billion (7 octillion)
Fill in the blank: The sum of all your genes is called the ______.
Genome
What are the segments of DNA called that contain instructions for building proteins?
Genes
What common food sources are rich in selenium?
- Nuts
- Whole wheat bread
- Fish
How does the cost of the fundamental components of the human body according to PBS’s Nova compare to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s estimate?
$168 vs. $151,578.46
What percentage of the human genome is made up of the genes that provide instructions for building proteins?
Only 2%
What is the paradox of genetics regarding human DNA?
We are all very different yet genetically practically identical.
What percentage of DNA do all humans share?
99.9 percent
How many places do DNA sequences differ between two humans?
Three to four million places
What is the proportion of the human genome that codes for proteins?
2 percent
What is an Alu element?
A short sequence repeated more than a million times in the genome
What percentage of our genetic material is constituted by Alu elements?
10 percent
What term is used to describe the genetic material whose function is not fully understood?
Dark DNA
What is the estimated number of cells in the human body?
37.2 trillion cells
How many diseases can potentially kill a person according to the WHO?
Slightly more than eight thousand
True or False: Most cells in the body replicate without going wrong.
True
What common health issue results from humans having jaws that are too small?
Impacted molars
What unique ability do zebra fish have that humans lack?
They can regenerate damaged heart tissue
Fill in the blank: Humans cannot produce _______ despite undertaking most of the process.
Vitamin C
What is the significance of our genes coming from ancestors that were not human?
It reflects a long evolutionary history
What was the earliest form of life from which humans descended?
Unicellular blobs
How is the human body often compared to machines?
In its functionality and operation
What is the average lifestyle choice that affects human health negatively?
Eating maximally and exercising minimally
What does the body do with cancerous cells that turn every day?
Captures and kills them
True or False: Cancer is a common event in life.
False
What is the remarkable aspect of human life according to the text?
We aren’t overwhelmed by our frailties
