Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about how DNA My Name works, what the results mean, and how to use it.
Is this my real DNA?
No. DNA My Name generates scientifically-plausible but entirely fictional DNA sequences. Real human DNA is billions of base pairs long and encodes proteins through a complex process involving introns, promoters, and regulatory regions. This tool uses real codon biology for an educational and creative experience — not a genetic analysis of any real person.
Why does the same name always give the same DNA sequence?
The algorithm is fully deterministic. Your name is hashed using MurmurHash3 to create a numeric seed, and a pseudo-random number generator (xorshift32) uses that seed to select codons at each position. Because the seed is derived only from your name (and the variant number), the same inputs always produce the same output — on any device, anywhere in the world.
What are amino acids and codons?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. DNA encodes amino acids using three-letter sequences called codons — for example, the codon GCT encodes Alanine. The genetic code maps all 64 possible codons to 20 amino acids (plus start and stop signals). Most amino acids are encoded by multiple codons, which is called codon redundancy or degeneracy.
What does 'Shuffle' do?
Shuffle increments an internal variant number, which changes the PRNG seed. This causes different synonymous codons to be selected at each position — the amino acid sequence (and therefore the "biological meaning") stays the same, but the DNA string changes. Think of it as choosing a different dialect to express the same information.
Can I use this for a school project?
Yes! DNA My Name is designed as an educational tool. It illustrates the central dogma of molecular biology (DNA → protein) in a memorable, personal way. Students can explore how amino acids are encoded, what codon redundancy means, and why the genetic code is considered universal. Check out the For Educators page for classroom discussion prompts and curriculum connections.
What are the letter substitutions — what happens to B, J, U, O, X, Z?
The standard amino acid alphabet uses 20 one-letter codes (A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y). Letters that don't map directly are substituted: B→D (Aspartic Acid), J→L (Leucine), O→K (Lysine), U→C (Cysteine), X→G (Glycine), Z→E (Glutamic Acid). These substitutions are chosen based on biochemical similarity.
Can I compare two names?
Yes — the G.E.N.E Index feature calculates a fun DNA similarity score between any two names. Visit Compare DNA to enter two names and see their compatibility score and category.
How do I download my DNA sequence?
After generating your sequence on the main page, you can download a PNG image, a story-sized image, or a DNA card depending on the view you are using. Share links still preserve your exact sequence so others can reproduce it.
How is my TCG card rarity determined?
Rarity is calculated from three properties of your name's DNA sequence. GC content is the percentage of Guanine and Cytosine bases — higher GC content generally means a more thermally stable sequence. Codon diversity measures how many unique three-letter codons appear relative to the total. Amino acid variety counts how many distinct biochemical groups your amino acids fall into. The five tiers are: Common (baseline), Uncommon (high codon diversity), Rare (high GC content or very varied amino acids), Legendary (high GC and amino acid variety combined), and Mythic (all three metrics at their peak). Longer names with less repetition tend to score higher.