Does anyone know the maximum number of traits that can be stored in our DNA? combined dominant and recessive.?

Question

i can't find anything saying about it.

thank you for your help!:)

Answer 1

I don't think there is an answer to this question. DNA just codes for proteins, which ultimately gives visible "traits", but each protein or group of proteins which makes up a trait is a different size, meaning the number of base pairs coding for it will vary. Therefore the total number of "traits" that could be coded for is a non-question.

What I can tell you is that there are 3 billion base pairs and I think something like 20,000 to 25,000 genes. But those genes are only about 1.5% of the base pairs, the rest are non-coding. I suppose that means you could extrapolate the answer to your question as 1.66million, as if 1.5% of the genome equals 25,000 genes, if all the DNA were coding then there would be 1.66million genes.

Vague, but hopefully it helps.