3D animation showing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in an animal cell. The animation zooms into the cell, then its nucleus until it reaches the level of a single chromosome. Magnification continues inside the chromosome to reveal a section of a coiled DNA molecule. Finally the double helix structure becomes visible along with its constituent nucleotides (coloured segments). The sequence of chemical bases on the nucleotides forms the genetic code which governs protein synthesis and thus determines the growth, development and characteristics of an organism.