Blog Archives
How Epigenetics Works
Neil deGrasse Tyson presents this short PBS NOVA overview of how epigenetics determines the differences between gene expressions in identical twins, how epigenetic variations build up over time and how it affects us. A relatively new, but very interesting field of medicine and genetics, this is a good introduction.
Epigenetics is not directly mentioned in our syllabus, but does help us to connect the ideas of nature vs nurture, genetic variation and inheritance. To what extent does the nurture of our cellular environment (lifestyle) affect the genetic nature of who we are?
For some more really good resources on epigenetics, visit the brilliant Learn.Genetics site from Utah.
Thanks to Ed Yong for posting this on his weekly links roundup.
NOVA Life Science Resources
NOVA from pbs.org (Public Broadcasting Services) has a great library of animations and interactives on their site.
Topics include Evolution, Classification, Genetics, Ecology and Microbiology.
Many of the interactives can be saved using the downloader on Firefox.
Belyaev’s Foxes: Genetics in Action
This clip from NOVA neatly explains how Belyaev bred tame foxes – and also worked out where the markings of modern dogs may have come from.
i-Biology 