Genetic Testing
Produced for the Citizen Science project, this resource enagages students in the debate around genetic testing and screening. It is suitable for students aged 14-16 and post-16. The activity provides an opportunity to investigate genetic disorders before considering a number of statements and situations concerning the social and…
Exploring Issues: a Teachers' Guide
Produced by the Citizen Science project, this teacher guidance summarises ideas on how to run successful discussions and debates within the secondary classroom. Examples illustrate how a range of techniques, such as TV chat show formats, can be used successfully. These materials will help teachers to: • run a variety of…
Drugs on the Brain
Produced by the Citizen Science project, this resource engages students in debating the social, political and health issues surrounding the use of drugs. In this activity, debate commences by introducing characters, scenarios and issues connected with drugs. Students are given opportunities to hot seat as experts or characters…
Reports on Educational Issues
A selection of downloadable reports, commissioned by the Wellcome Trust, on issues in science education including science and society, continuing professional development, national curriculum primary science and Key Stage Two assessment. The five reports featured are: • National Primary Science Survey (England) In-service…
Lymphatic Filariasis
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this animation shows the complete life cycle of tiny parasitic worms as they move between human and mosquito hosts. Lymphatic filariasis is a disabling disease found in low-income areas of many tropical and subtropical countries. Parasitic worms multiply in the lymphatic system and release larvae…
Malaria Life Cycle
From the Wellcome Trust, these animations show the life cycle of the malaria parasite. They illustrate how the parasite develops in the mosquito before being transmitted to a human host following a blood meal. The protozoan then develops inside the host's liver and red blood cells, causing the symptoms of malaria and releasing…
Schistosomiasis Life Cycle
This animation, from the Wellcome Trust, illustrates how several species of the Schistosoma parasitic worms exploit humans and fresh water snails. The parasites use rivers and streams to transfer between the two animals, using each for a specific phase of its life cycle. The parasitic worms are able to penetrate skin and infect…
Trypanosomiasis Life Cycle
Two animations, from the Wellcome Trust, illustrate the life cycle of the trypanosomiasis protozoan parasite. They illustrate the journey of these single celled parasites, which cause human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, from the gut of the tsetse fly into the human bloodstream. If left untreated, the disease can be…
Tuberculosis - Infection and Transmission
From the Wellcome Trust, this animation shows how the human immune system attempts to contain a tuberculosis infection and how the bacteria are transmitted to new people. Tuberculosis usually affects the respiratory system but it can develop in any part of the body. The human immune system commonly contains the infection but a…
Zoom in on Your Genome
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this animation helps to illustrate where and how the human genome is stored within our cells and bodies. It takes a journey which starts with the whole human body before looking into a liver cell and then the cell's nucleus. The animation shows the arrangements of chromosomes within the nucleus…
5/5- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Interactive resource
Chagas' Disease Life Cycle
From the Wellcome Trust, these animations illustrate the life cycle of the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas' Disease. The parasites use a blood-sucking insect called a triatomine as an incubator and vector. The protozoan parasite mautures and reproduces in the insect before being deposited on humans in the insect’s…
Dengue Virus Replication and Transmission
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, these animations take a detailed look at the molecular mechanisms that allow the dengue virus to subvert the cells of its mammalian host, allowing it to replicate and spread. Dengue is an example of an RNA virus. Being bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus can lead to a broad range of symptoms…
DNA Sequencing
From the Wellcome Trust, these animations show three different methods for the sequencing of DNA. The Sanger method, developed in 1975, illustrates an early way of determining a DNA sequence. Fluorescent bases are incorporated into fragments of DNA that are made from the sample being sequenced. Analysis of the fragments enables…
DNA to Protein - Transcription and Translation
This animation, from the Wellcome Trust, illustrates how the DNA code is used to build protein molecules inside our cells. It shows how, during the process of transcription, polymerase unzips the DNA and uses it as a template to produce a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) . The animation then goes on to show how this mRNA, along…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Interactive resource
HIV Life Cycle
This animation, from the Wellcome Trust, shows how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects white blood cells and uses its RNA to produce a strand of DNA which becomes integrated in the host cell's genome. HIV replicates inside white blood cells called CD4+ T cells. Here, viral DNA integrates with human DNA and acts…
Obesity
From the Wellcome Trust, this issue of the 'Big Picture' series reviews the causes, health consequences, and personal and social impact of obesity, and how it might be tackled. How is body weight controlled? Why is the incidence of obesity increasing? What is the impact on people and society? What can be done about it?…
Thinking
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. The human brain may be the most complex structure in the universe. The brain is so powerful that it is attempting to understand itself, through research. New techniques have opened up ways of exploring the brain. Functional…
Sex and Gender
Published by the Wellcome Trust, this issue explores the biological basis of sex differences and the relationship between sex and gender. An activity encourages debate on the topic of sex selection. The development of new reproductive technologies makes it possible for the first time to choose the sex of children. But should parents…
Evolution
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. Why does Darwinian evolution raise controversy when, say, quantum mechanics scarcely registers on the public consciousness? This issue of 'Big Picture' looks at the theory of evolution, the evidence that supports…
Drug Development
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. While providing immense benefits, drugs are not the perfect solution. They only work on a proportion of patients, sometimes they harm us, and we're not very good at taking them as we should. For some diseases, particularly…
Epidemics
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. How do we stop new diseases emerging or re-emerging infections getting out of hand? How does this happen in a world of such global economic imbalance, where countries vary greatly in the resources they can put into fighting…
How We Look
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. This issue looks at the interplay between the biology that sculpts our form and the culture that interprets and adapts it. It asks what we mean by ‘normal’, what beauty is and how such concepts influence the way…
Music, Mind and Medicine
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. Most of us hear some form of music each day. It is a popular leisure activity and accompanies many of the most significant points of our lives. Even so, music remains one of life's great mysteries. How can it have such…
Health and Climate Change
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. The Earth's climate is changing ever faster, and human activities play a role in speeding up this change. Find out how climate change affects our health. In a related activity, using an on-line simulation game, students…
Influenza
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. Written at the time of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak, it looks at the nature of influenza, drugs and vaccines that can fight it. Looking at the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the resource explores how it compares to previous strains…