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'discover... DNA' is
based upon DNA: the molecule of life,
an afternoon of lectures held at the Royal Institution
to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the determination
of the structure of DNA, The aim of the site
is to provide an interactive resource for young
people which complements the GCSE syllabus and
enhances your school's visit to the Royal Institution.
It covers specific topics in the GCSE Biology
and Double Science syllabus, notably Life
Processes and Livings. The specific educational
targets are detailed below.
'discover... DNA' is divided into 4 main areas: the
science, quiz, big
questions and discussion forum.
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the science is intended as
a resource area for pupils to access from school
or at home, and can be used either for learning
prior to attending the lectures, or for further
study and exploration after attending the lecture. the
science is where the majority of the
GCSE content lies, and serves to complement topics
raised in the lecture. It covers the structure
of DNA, the role DNA plays in cell division and
growth, nature and nurture and the laws of inheritance,
and discusses some of the ways that DNA is used
in the world today. Each topic has an interactive
activity that is intended to explain the more
complex areas of the science. did you
know...? facts are scattered throughout
the site.
The 4 areas of the science are
as follows:
| 1. |
the
recipe for life: what is DNA
and how is it structured? This section
provides the background information,
and describes how the sequence of units
along the DNA chain provides the code
that determines what an organism is,
and what makes it different to another
organism.
This section includes the following activity:
- DNA focus - zoom
in on a DNA strand. View the various
levels, from the human body through the
nucleus of a cell, down to chromosomes
and even further, down to a single gene.
Includes information about each stage.
GCSE syllabus
GCSE Science KS4 Double, Life Processes
and Living Things: Cell Activity Pupils
should be taught:
c) that the nucleus contains chromosomes
that carry the genes.
GCSE Biology, Life Processes and Living
Things: Cell Activity
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| 2. |
how
do we grow?: This section takes
a look at replication and cell division,
describing the cell cycle, from interphase
through to telophase. It also clarifies
the difference between meiosis and mitosis.
This section includes the following activity:
- cell cycle - test
knowledge of the cell cycle in this activity.
Identify the diagram and description
to complete the full process of cell
division.
GCSE syllabus
- GCSE Science KS4 Double, Life Processes
and Living Things: Cell Activity
Pupils should be taught:
d) how cells divide by mitosis during
growth, and by meiosis to produce gametes.
Inheritance
Pupils should be taught:
d) how sex is determined in humans
e) the mechanism of monohybrid inheritance
where there are dominant and recessive
alleles
f) about mechanisms by which some diseases
are inherited
g) that the gene is a section of DNA
- GCSE Biology, Life Processes and
Living Things: Cell Activity,
Cell Division
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nature
or nurture?: in the context
of DNA, what is nature and nurture? This
section goes into detail about the laws
of inheritance, including a passage about
Gregor Mendel and his peas. It also looks
at the idea of inheritance in terms of
dominant and recessive alleles, and disease.
This section includes the following activity:
- Mutation man - see
if you can identify which character is
most susceptible to mutation in this
fun interactive game.
National Curriculum / GSCE syllabus
- GCSE Science KS4 Double, Life
Processes and Living Things: Variation, inheritance
and evolution Pupils should be taught:
a) how variation arises from genetic
causes, environmental causes, and a combination
of both
b) that sexual reproduction is a source
of genetic variation, while asexual reproduction
produces clones
c) that mutation is a source of genetic
variation and has a number of causes
- GCSE Biology, Life Processes and
Living Things: Variation, inheritance
and evolution, Variation and Genetics
and DNA
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how
we use DNA: what is cloning
and what are its practical uses in the
world today? This section also deals
with the subject of genetic engineering,
and how this is more prevalent in the
world than we might at first think.
This section includes the following activity:
- DNA detectives - play the part of
a forensic scientist and see the various
stages that are necessary for creating
a DNA profile. If you are successful
you may be able to help the police in
their identification of the suspects
in a heinous crime.
GCSE syllabus
- GCSE Science KS4 Double, Life
Processes and Living Things: Variation,
inheritance and evolution. Pupils
should be taught:
Inheritance
h) the basic principles of cloning, selective
breeding and genetic engineering
- GCSE Biology, Life Processes and
Living Things: Variation, inheritance
and evolution, Variation and Genetics
and DNA
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The quiz is intended to be
a follow-up activity, for students to test their
absorption of the information in the
science area, or after attending one
of the lectures. All of the answers can be found
in the science or big
questions, but it is assumed that by
taking on the quiz challenge the science student
is already prepared. The aim is to answer all
of the questions in the shortest possible time,
and the fastest will receive a prize from the
Ri.
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big questions are intended
as a 'further research' resource for use at home
or at school. It is aimed to stimulate current
DNA research. You may wish to use these questions
in the classroom to start wider discussion or
individual study. The topic areas covered are:
- In the future, will we be able to choose
what our children will be like?
- Will scientists be able to create new life
forms?
- Does the human genome have the answers to
conditions such as diabetes or Alzheimer's
Disease?
- Can the human genome predict your personality?
- Can we use stem cells to treat disease?
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The discussion forum is
intended to create an online community of learning,
where pupils can discuss the topics that have
been raised in the site with other science students.
The discussion forum can be accessed by clicking
on any of the 'Discuss it…'
links in the science, or via the discussion
forum link on the menu bar.
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Your experiences, both
good and bad, will help us to plan future events
for Schools: contact us in feedback.
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discover... is
designed to provoke discussion. If you found
a science topic that engaged an audience share
it with InsideOut.
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