Function Finders
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, in this activity students translate DNA sequences into a series of amino acids to discover which protein is coded for and its function. Students are supplied with a worksheet with DNA sequences and a codon wheel to decode the codons into amino acids. The amino acid sequence can…
Build a Bug Activity
This is a classroom-based activity from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute that allows students to explore the features of two bacterial pathogen genomes. The aim of this activity is to highlight the role of different genetic components in two closely related subspecies of Salmonella enterica, and to identify how these contribute…
Model Organisms: Zebra Fish
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, in this activity students have to use their observational skills to identify and record the difference (phenotypic change) between two images, one wild type zebra fish and one mutant zebra fish. To aid in their diagnosis of the phenotypic change, a glossary is provided to give…
Balloon Bugs
This resource from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a practical, classroom activity that allows the students to make a balloon model of a disease-causing bacterium. This illustrates its basic shape and structure. Students can choose from three bacteria species including: 1. Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni which…
Yummy Gummy DNA
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, in this activity students make their own edible DNA double helix model out of Jelly Babies and cocktail sticks. In doing so, they find out about the basics of DNA structure and complementary base pairs. The activity links with the 14-16 curriculum but can also be used with a younger…
From DNA to Protein
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this animation gives an overview of the process of protein synthesis and how DNA codes for proteins. It covers the major stages of the process starting with where DNA is found in the cell and how its information is transcribed into mRNA. It then follows through the processing of mRNA…
DNA Sequence Bracelets
From the Sanger Institute, this craft based activity suitable for classroom use or science festivals where students make a DNA sequence bracelet that carries part of the code of an organism such as a human, trout, chimpanzee or butterfly. The activity reinforces the principle of complementary base pairs as they are given one…
DNA Libraries: Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC)
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this resource contains an overview of the techniques involved in making a BAC (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome) library. It consists of an animation that covers the key stages in the process: • Extracting DNA from white blood cells and use of restriction enzymes to "cut…
Malaria Challenge
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this multimedia resource explores the five major stages of the malaria lifecycle, highlighting the role of the Plasmodium parasite at each stage. The resource predominantly focuses on Plasmodium falciparum but does also make reference to other Plasmodium species including Plasmodium…
Malaria Challenge: Big Debate
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, these materials are designed to be used in conjunction with the Malaria Challenge materials (also included in this collection on the eLibrary). Students use the Malaria Challenge resource to research one of five different stages of the malaria cycle. In groups they discuss the…
DNA Sequencing
From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this animation shows a detailed overview of the processes involved in the dideoxy or Sanger method for sequencing DNA. This is the method used to sequence the human genome. The animation demonstrates the principles and techniques involved in the Sanger sequencing method, and how the technology…
Handshake Hazard
This resource from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a hands-on classroom activity for Key Stage Two students that aims to support the teaching of microbes and hand hygiene. This interactive, practical activity demonstrates how microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, can be spread through hand to hand contact. Using a special…
Contamination Detectives
This resource from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a hands-on classroom activity for Key Stage Two students that aims to support the teaching of topics such as microbes and hand hygiene. This interactive, practical activity demonstrates how microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, can be spread through surface contact. Using…
Zoom in on Your Genome
From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this resource contains an animation that takes a journey which zooms in from the surface of the body into a cell. It illustrates the relationship between the nucleus, chromosomes, genes and DNA. Each stage is at higher magnification to show where the genome is found and to provide brief…
Malaria Challenge: Managing Malaria
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, these materials help students to understand how malaria is tackled in an area where it is endemic. In this activity students are given a scenario where they are allocated the role of malaria programme managers for a community in a malaria area. In groups, students assess the situation…
Sneeze Zone
This hands-on classroom activity from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute for Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three students aims to aid in the teaching of respiratory health and hygiene topics. This interactive, practical activity demonstrates how microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, can be spread through coughing and sneezing. Using…
Malaria Challenge: Funding Decisions
From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this resource helps students to consider the allocations of funds to one or more malaria intervention projects. In groups they must discuss the pros and cons of different the projects and decide which should receive funding. Students can use the Malaria Challenge resource (also included…
MRSA Gene Hunt
This is a classroom-based activity from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute that allows students to explore the features of two bacterial pathogen genomes. The aim of the activity is to highlight the role of different genetic components in two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and to identify how these have led to one strain becoming…
DNA Libraries: Subcloning
From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, these materials contain a short animation demonstrating the process of subcloning, which is one of the stages involved in sequencing the genome of a large organism. Subcloning is the process of breaking up BAC clones (fragments of DNA inserted into bacterial cells) into smaller more manageable…
How the Human Genome Was Sequenced
From the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this resource introduces the Human Genome Project (HGP). A short animation gives: • an introduction to DNA and genomes; • an overview of which countries were involved in the international Human Genome Project; • a description of the processes, biological principles and…
Horizontal Gene Transfer
A short Flash animation from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, providing a brief introduction on how bacteria exchange genes through the process of horizontal gene transfer. This animation can be used when discussing antibiotic resistance in bacteria such as MRSA and Salmonella.
Origami DNA
Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this practical activity allows students to create an origami model of DNA, demonstrating its double helix structure. The activity provides a hands-on way of learning about the structure of DNA. Two templates are available as PDFs; a standard template with the base pairs already…
KRAS: Cancer Mutation Activity
These materials contain a range of activities where students use real genomic data from the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute to find mutations in a gene associated with pancreatic cancer. Students mark the locations of the mutations on a gene sequence banner and record the results on worksheets. The…
MRSA Animation
This animation from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is suitable for GCSE and A-level students and provides an introduction to the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The animation describes how drug resistant strains such as MRSA can be spread in hospital settings, how infections can be treated and how MRSA has an impact on patients…