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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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.
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…