Journey into DNA

Travel deep into the human body to see exactly where your DNA resides. From the NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" Web site.

Mendel's Laws of Genetic Inheritance

This interactive activity, adapted from the Dolan DNA Learning Center, uses Punnett squares to illustrate Mendel's laws of inheritance and how a particular gene combination results in a 3-to-1 ratio of dominant-to-recessive traits.

Migration Sensations

This video segment from Faces of America details the process of human migration through haplogroups and shows the haplogroups of some of the series’ guests.

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Modeling DNA Structure

Students explore the structure of the DNA molecule and begin to understand how chromosomes, genes, and the base pairs, sugars, and phosphates of the DNA molecule are related.

A Mutation Story

This video segment describes the role of the sickle cell gene in natural selection. Footage courtesy of the PBS series Secret of Life: "Accidents of Creation."

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One Wrong Letter

This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" describes the genetics of Tay-Sachs disease.

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A Piece of the Pie

This video from the series Faces of America covers what DNA can tell us about our ethnic identities that regular genealogy might not.

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Reproduction: One Goal, Two Methods

In this lesson designed to enhance literacy skills, students learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the two basic forms of reproduction for the living things that practice them.

Restoration of the American Chestnut

This KET video segment from Kentucky Life describes how scientists control pollination of one of the few remaining American chestnut trees to develop blight resistant trees.

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The Reverse Evolution Machine

Dr. David Haussler has created a new method of detecting dinosaur DNA, called ”computational genomics.” In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, learn about this innovative way of discovering dinosaur DNA.

The Role of Genetics in Obesity

In this video segment from NOVA scienceNOW, meet researchers who are studying obesity and trying to understand the role that hormones and genetics can play in regulating appetite.

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Sickle vs. Normal Cell

Background image of normal disc-shaped red blood cells from the University of Utah. Inset shows sickled red blood cells, curved and rigid, from the Virginia Medical College.

Some Genes Are Dominant

This interactive activity, adapted from the Dolan DNA Learning Center, illustrates how Gregor Mendel used pure-bred yellow and green peas to show that some genes are dominant and others are recessive.