Animals and Plants

Bacteria, fungi, plants and animals all have their own set of DNA instructions contained within their genome. Discover what we can find out by studying the genomes of different organisms.  

    Our Animal DNA
    Activity

    Use online bioinformatics tools to find and compare brand new genome sequences from species sequenced as part of Darwin Tree of Life.
    Construct a Bug
    Activity

    Follow the DNA clues to discover what genes an unknown bacterial sample contains!
    Genomics and Adaptations Pack
    Activity

    Discover how genetics underpins adaptations that let creatures survive and thrive!
    Genome Challenge
    Activity

    Discover some of the most fundamental differences between living things and ask the question: what really counts for complexity?
    Amazing Adaptations Pack
    Activity

    Explore the amazing adaptations all around us in the natural world! Many of these are the result of creatures having specific instructions in their genetic code allowing them to live how they do.
    Classify!
    Activity

    What makes a bird a bird or a mammal a mammal? Grouping creatures together can show what links different creatures together.
    Creature Report
    Activity

    Share your research like a scientist would. Research your favourite animal or plant and create a poster to communicate your findings.
    Whose Poo?
    Activity

    Some animals can be hard to find even when they are living right under our noses! However, the things they leave behind can often provide useful clues for understanding what creatures are living in a particular habitat.
    Marvellous Microbes Pack
    Activity

    What are microbes and what do they do? Discover more about the marvellous microbe world and how it has an impact on how we live our lives.
    Investigate!
    Activity

    What makes us similar and what makes us different? Carry out your own genetic variation investigation using a selection of household items.
    Inbreeding: from champion horses to life-saving mice
    Story

    Humans have been breeding animals for millenia to bring out desirable characteristics. With the thoroughbred race horse there's lots of money at stake but with research mice it's the possibility of life-saving new treatments.
    What is selective breeding?
    Facts

    Selective breeding involves selecting parents that have characteristics of interest in the hope that their offspring inherit those desirable characteristics.
    What is a GMO?
    Facts

    GMOs are organisms that have had their characteristics changed through the modification of their DNA.
    What are model organisms?
    Facts

    A model organism is a species that has been widely studied, usually because it is easy to maintain and breed in a laboratory setting and has particular experimental advantages.
    Tiny fish, big splash: the story of the zebrafish
    Story

    The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model organism only relatively recently. It is a tropical fish from the minnow family with a genetic structure surprisingly similar to ours.
    Should animals be used in research?
    Debate

    Animals, from the fruit fly to the mouse, are widely used in scientific research. They are crucial for allowing scientists to learn more about human biology and health, and for developing new medicines. 
    Using yeast in biology
    Story

    Yeast is one of the simplest eukaryotic organisms but many essential cellular processes are the same in yeast and humans. It is therefore an important organism to study to understand basic molecular processes in humans. 
    Of mice and men
    Story

    The mouse is closely related to humans with a striking similarity to us in terms of anatomy, physiology and genetics. This makes the mouse an extremely useful model organism. 
    The African clawed frog
    Story

    While many species of amphibians have been studied by scientists, the one that stands out in genetics is the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. 
    Timeline: Organisms that have had their genomes sequenced
    Facts

    To develop techniques for DNA sequencing, scientists began by sequencing the genomes of small, simple organisms. As techniques improved it became possible to sequence the genomes of more complex organisms, such as the human genome. Now, we have a large catalogue of genomes that have been sequenced that we can study and compare. 

Pages