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.

Animals and Plants

facts What is phylogenetics? Phylogenetics is the study of the evolutionary relationships between organisms, based on their genetic material revealed through DNA and RNA sequencing.
activities Our Animal DNA Use online bioinformatics tools to find and compare brand new genome sequences from species sequenced as part of Darwin Tree of Life.
activities Construct a Bug Follow the DNA clues to discover what genes an unknown bacterial sample contains!
activities Genomics and Adaptations Pack Discover how genetics underpins adaptations that let creatures survive and thrive!
activities Genome Challenge Discover some of the most fundamental differences between living things and ask the question: what really counts for complexity?
activities Amazing Adaptations Pack 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.
activities Classify! What makes a bird a bird or a mammal a mammal? Grouping creatures together can show what links different creatures together.
activities Creature Report Share your research like a scientist would. Research your favourite animal or plant and create a poster to communicate your findings.
activities Whose Poo? 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.
activities Marvellous Microbes Pack 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.
activities Investigate! What makes us similar and what makes us different? Carry out your own genetic variation investigation using a selection of household items.
stories Inbreeding: from champion horses to life-saving mice 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.
facts What is selective breeding? Selective breeding involves selecting parents that have characteristics of interest in the hope that their offspring inherit those desirable characteristics.
facts What is a GMO? GMOs are organisms that have had their characteristics changed through the modification of their DNA.
stories Using yeast in biology 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.
stories Of mice and men 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.
stories The African clawed frog While many species of amphibians have been studied by scientists, the one that stands out in genetics is the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.
facts Timeline: Organisms that have had their genomes sequenced 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.
activities Spot the Difference: Zebrafish Step into the shoes of a genetic scientist and carry out a phenotype analysis with the model organism, zebrafish.
facts What are model organisms? 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.
debates Should animals be used in research? 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.
stories Sequencing the worm The 1950s and early 1960s saw a dazzling explosion in molecular biology. The structure of DNA had been uncovered and the mysteries of biology seemed eminently solvable. What would be the next big thing?
facts Why use the mouse in research? Humans and mice share many common genetic features and by examining the physiology, anatomy and metabolism of a mouse, scientists can gain a valuable insight into how humans function.
facts Why use yeast in research? Baker’s yeast, or Saccharomyces cerevisiae as it is also known, is among the best-studied experimental organisms.
facts Why use the frog in research? Much of our current knowledge about the mechanisms of early development in vertebrates comes from studies using the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and Western clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis).
facts Why use the fly in research? The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is one of the most well understood of all the model organisms.
interactives Saving the Devil This multimedia resource tells the story of the Tasmanian devil and the transmissible cancer that threatens its existence
facts Why use the zebrafish in research? Since the 1960s, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become increasingly important to scientific research. It has many characteristics that make it a valuable model for studying human genetics and disease.
facts Why use the worm in research? While the fruit fly has a long history as a model organism, the nematode worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) has only been used as a model organism since the early 1960s.
debates Is it ethical to genetically modify farm animals for agriculture? Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of an organism’s genes to alter or enhance certain characteristics.
stories Fruit flies in the laboratory The fruit fly, also known as Drosophila melanogaster, has the longest history in genetics and research out of all the model organisms.
stories Tiny fish, big splash: the story of the zebrafish 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.

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