• Question: How can a 6m (small intestine) fit in our bodies?

    Asked by BOB to Pip, Reka on 18 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Reka Nagy

      Reka Nagy answered on 18 Nov 2016:

      Because it’s coiled up, instead of being stretched out – like how a ball of yarn can fit into a ball even though it might be several meters long! Same way the DNA in our cells (which measures 3 meters in EACH cell if stretched out end to end) fits into cells – it is wound very tightly around proteins and even winds up in on itself to become quite compact.

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