DNA

DNA is (basically) a substance inside bodies that is the main dictator of what those bodies look like. The structure of DNA looks like a spiralling staircase. The specific information in the DNA is called the genetic code. The words DNA or Genetic material are synonyms. All genetic information in a single cell is called "the Genome". DNA stands for.

Because DNA is that main dictator it is vital in any procedure to recreate dinosaurs. Therefore, DNA is discussed or appears many times in Jurassic Park novels, movies and games. It even became a reoccuring character: Mr. DNA.

This article describes what DNA is and how it functions based on what is revealed in the Jurassic Park Franchise.

Jurassic Park film
Compared to the novels DNA is poorly discussed in the Jurassic Park movies. In Jurassic Park the subject is touched upon in the Showroom scene. In the film Mr. DNA explains:

"A DNA strand like me is a blueprint for building a living thing!"

This explanation probably leaves most viewers oblivious to what DNA really is. With that introduction the film starts InGen's protocol to recreate the dinosaurs. Mr. DNA calls DNA a "strand", which should be understood as filament, string of thread. With some imagination Mr. DNA looks like a strand, like a beads necklace of white, yellow, blue and red beads. In the last part of the film we can see Mr. DNA with another thing that looks like a beads necklace with two strings. This one is made up of grey, blue, white, green and purple beads, and some "G"s, "A"s, "C"s and "T"s hanging in it at random places. Somehow, the producers hoped the viewers understood that this was DNA too.

Before that, when Mr. DNA says "Virtual Reality displays show our geneticists the gaps in the DNA sequence", a scientist is shown looking at a screen where a 'virtual reality display' of DNA seen. In this shot (which is a few seconds long) the more famous double spiral version of DNA is shown. It looks very different from Mr. DNA or the beads necklace.