What is Insertions and Deletions (Indels)?

Insertions and deletions are like when letters or words get added or taken out from a message.

Imagine you're writing a note to your friend, but you accidentally add an extra word or forget to write one, that’s what insertions and deletions (or indels) are in the world of science.

Think of your favorite sentence from a story: “The cat sat on the mat.” Now, if you add a letter, like “The cat sat on the mat”, that’s an insertion, because you added something.

On the other hand, if you remove a word, like “The cat on the mat”, that’s a deletion, because you took something away.

Scientists use indels to understand how things change over time, like in DNA or when comparing different versions of stories. Just like you might change your note a little before sending it to your friend, living things can change their messages too, and scientists watch those changes closely!