Our body is truly amazing.

The human body is made up of approximately 30 to 40 trillion cells on average.  However, this number can vary depending on factors like age, size, and individual differences.

(Revised estimates show that the typical adult human body consists of about 30 trillion human cells and about 38 trillion bacteria.  Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body – PMC )

Each cell of a human body has DNA strand which is 2 meters long and on average, the human body has 35 trillion cells. Thus, Science and Mathematics set the linear length of all the DNA in a human body as 70 trillion meters.

An astronomical unit (AU) is the equivalent of 150 million km / 93 million mi, and the Sun is 1 AU away from Earth. If we were to speak in meters, then the Sun would be 150.4 billion meters away from Earth. The Sun is 8.20 light minutes away, or 492 light-seconds away from Earth.

The aforesaid total combined DNA length or distance, is the equivalent of nearly 46 trips, or 23 round trips from the earth to the sun and back.

Length of linear DNA of a human cell.

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contained within each human cell possesses a linear length that exceeds the height of the individual. However, through highly efficient molecular packaging mechanisms, this DNA is compacted into the microscopic confines of the cell nucleus, which typically measures less than 10 micrometers in diameter.

A DNA strand is a long, thin molecule—averaging only about two nanometers (or two billionths of a meter) in width. That is so thin, that a human hair is about 40,000 times as wide.

The human genome is 2 meters long, but how does it fit inside a microscopic nucleus of a cell just a few micrometers thick? It’s mind-blowing to think that the DNA in each human cell—about 2 meters long if stretched out—fits into a nucleus that’s only about 6 micrometers wide. A micrometer also called a micron, which is one millionth of a metre (or one thousandth of a millimetre, 0.001 mm How long is your DNA? – BBC Science Focus Magazine

“Considering that a haploid human genome contains approximately 3 billion base pairs aggregated in 23 chromosomes and that, excluding reproductive cells, the vast majority of our cells contain 46 chromosomes, each cell contains approximately 6 billion base pairs. Since each base pair is approximately 1.5 billion base pairs long, 0.34 nanometers with a simple multiplication we can obtain the length of human DNA, a measurement that is close to 2 meters.

Packaging into nucleosomes allows for compact DNA by about 10,000 times incredibly going from centimeters to micrometers (cm → μm)!” https://uisjournal.com/human-dna-is-2-meters-long-but-how-does-it-fit-inside-a-cell-just-a-few-micrometers-thick/

tructure	Approx. Size	Function
DNA double helix	~2 nanometers wide	Basic genetic code
Nucleosome	~11 nanometers	First level of DNA packaging
Chromatin fiber	~30 nanometers	Coiled nucleosomes
Cell nucleus	~6 micrometers	DNA storage compartment
Human DNA strand	~2 meters long	Total length per cell

The packaging of the human DNA strand, monumentally exceeded (actually there is no comparison, but for purpose of some illumination) that of what humans do with the power of stack die technology in recent human history. Stack die (or 3D die stacking or chip stacking) technology is an advanced semiconductor packaging technique where multiple silicon dies (chips) are vertically stacked and interconnected within a single package.

Stack die technology is a game-changer for shrinking chip footprints while boosting performance and efficiency, This “power of stack die“ approach is becoming a key driver of innovation in semiconductors, especially in AI accelerators and is becoming essential for next-gen microelectronics. However, While stack die reduces footprint, it introduces: manufacturing complexity, thermal issues (heat buildup in tightly packed layers) and advanced microchips packaging is very expensive.

Theological Reflection:

God has revealed Himself through many ways to us humans, one of which is our human DNA that demonstrates His eternal power. Humans can never replicate, given its colossal complexity and sheer scale at micron level – just the packaging methodology involved in packing a 2-meter strand into such a small size of the cell nucleus; man who continues to reject God at death point, will have no excuse when he met His Creator on judgement day. God has said: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:19-20

Recognising the eternal power of God is a profound realisation that should inspire awe, humility, and purposeful living. Here’s what God tell humans to do to receive salvation in response to this truth.

God has reveled to us that salvation is a gift from God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ – the biblical principles regarding what a person must do to be saved:

1. Believe in Jesus Christ

• “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

2. Repent of Sins

• “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19)
• “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3)

3. Confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

• “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
•  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10,12

4. Be Baptized (as an act of obedience and identification with Christ).

• “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)
• “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

5. Live a Life of Faith and Obedience

• “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)
• “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Salvation is by Grace, Not Works

• “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Summary:

To be saved, a person must:

Believe and confess Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Repent of his or her sins.

Follow Christ faithfully in obedience as evidence of genuine belief. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

August 13, 2025

Dr. Cheong Kok Weng