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Your genes are the instructions for making you. They help make you unique—but also similar to all life on Earth! Inside the cells of every living thing are molecules of DNA. Hidden within DNA's structure is a universal language: the genetic code. This simple but incredibly versatile code spells out genes for an enormous variety of traits. Humans have been hacking into this code for thousands of years. At first, they did it by breeding plants and animals with useful traits, a process called artificial selection. Now, genetic engineering technology is making it possible to edit the code directly. Click “play” to find out how genes affect all of our lives!