Topic: Genetics and Heredity

All in the Family
In this Evolution Web feature, test your skills at judging who's who on the tree of life while you learn about the tools and methods of cladistics.

Animal Body Plans: Homeobox Genes
The homeobox genes that define the basic body plan of mice and fruit flies are illustrated in this graphic from The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne Zihlman. The accompanying article describes how these genes act as "molecular architects" in all animal species.

Build a Family Tree
Both sexes can use this interactive feature that lets you use DNA information from the Y chromosome to complete a male family tree. From the NOVA: "Lost Tribes of Israel" Web site.

Classical vs. Transgenic Breeding
This video segment from FRONTLINE/NOVA: "Harvest of Fear" explains that genetic engineering and classical breeding both alter the genetic makeup of crop plants.

DNA Databases
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" investigates the promises and concerns surrounding the use of DNA databases.

DNA Fingerprint Photos
These photographs supplied by Genelex Corporation depict actual DNA fingerprints and show the types of information that can be gleaned from them.

DNA on the Witness Stand
In this article, Dr. Eric Lander of the Human Genome Project comments on the use of DNA as an identification tool -- the theoretical versus the practical results.

Double Immunity
Dr. Stephen O'Brien of the National Cancer Institute discovers a 700-year-old mutation that makes a person resistant to HIV infection. From Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race."

Evolution on Double Time
This excerpt from Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea by Carl Zimmer describes how gene duplication may have been the key to the rapid evolution of the early stages of life on Earth.

Explore a Stretch of Code
Try your hand at reading a segment of genetic code in this interactive feature from the NOVA "Cracking the Code of Life" Web site.

Finding Cures Is Hard
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" explains the difficulty of curing genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Forensic DNA Analysis
This video segment from NOVA: "The Killer's Trail" investigates the potential for DNA evidence to solve murder cases, even those from the distant past.

Gel Electrophoresis
This interactive activity from the Dolan DNA Learning Center illustrates the process of gel electrophoresis, in which DNA fragments are separated by size as they migrate at different rates through a gel matrix.

Genetic Art
Take a peek at the artistic side of science in this virtual exhibit, featuring work by Eva Sutton, Alexis Rockman and Sidney Harris.

Genetic Modification
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" looks at the potential created by understanding the human genome.

Genetics: Tour of the Basics
In this interactive activity from the University of Utah, identify different kinds of genetic traits and how they are passed on from generation to generation. View examples of simple and complex trait inheritance.

Genetic Tool Kit
The shared set of genes for body segments, possessed by all animals, are discussed in this video segment from Evolution: "Great Transformations."

Genome Facts
This list from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" Web site provides some of the basic, yet impressive, facts and figures about the Human Genome Project.

HIV Immunity
Although repeatedly exposed to HIV, Steve Crohn's blood cells were never infected. Dr. David Ho investigates in this video segment from NOVA: "Surviving AIDS."

How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis
How exactly does meiosis mix and halve chromosomes? Find out through this feature from NOVA: "18 Ways to Make a Baby," which provides a step-by-step, side-by-side comparison of meiosis and mitosis.

How DNA Replicates
This narrated animation from Interactive NOVA: "The Secret of Life" illustrates DNA replication.

Human Chromosome 2
In this video segment adapted from NOVA: "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial," learn how modern genetics and molecular biology offer compelling support for evolution. The video features an interview with biologist Ken Miller.

Is Love in Our DNA?
Did evolution shape your taste in a mate? Take our interactive poll from Evolution.

Model Organisms
This interactive activity from the Dolan DNA Learning Center shows the different types of model organisms used in research and why each might be selected when performing an experiment.

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."

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

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
This video segment from NOVA: "18 Ways to Make a Baby" describes a technique used to determine the health of a developing embryo.

Sequence for Yourself
How do researchers read the tiny As, Gs, Ts, and Cs that comprise DNA? This step-by-step explanation shows you. From NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life."

Should We Create Babies by Design?
Should we attempt to control our heredity? Take our poll, developed for the Evolution Web site.

Stem Cells: Seeds of Hope?
This video explores the basic scientific and ethical questions surrounding the use of stem cells in medical research.

Three Ways to Check a Fetus's Chromosomes
This figure from Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications by Ricki Lewis identifies techniques used to collect cells from fetuses for genetic testing.

Viewpoints: Harvest of Fear
What do the experts say about genetically modified (GM) foods? Read these interview excerpts from the FRONTLINE/NOVA: "Harvest of Fear" Web site to find out.