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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <title>DNA from the Beginning - An animated primer of 75 experiments that made modern genetics.</title> <meta name="description" content="Discover the concepts and experiments that define the fields of genetics and molecular biology. This animated primer features the work of over 100 scientists and researchers." /> <link href="/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Serif' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/home-tabs2.js"></script> </head> <body onload="showSection(window.location.hash.substring(1));"> <div id="container-home"> <div id="header-home"> <div id="search" style="margin-right: 50px; margin-top: 65px;"> <form method="get" action="/search"> <div class="fieldHolder1"> <input type="search" id="q" name="q" placeholder="Search" onclick="this.value=''" /> <img src="/images/general/search_icon.jpg" alt="Search" onclick="var q=document.getElementById('q');if (q.value.match(/^Search this site/)) q.value='';document.forms[0].submit()" /> </div> </form> </div>  <img class="home-logo" src="/images/general/home-logo.jpg" alt="DNA from the Beginning" style="margin-top: 15px;"/> </div>  <div id="menu-home"> <ul class="menu-home"> <li class="section1"><a id="tab-classical" onclick="showSection('classical')" title="Classical Genetics"><span class="displace">CLASSICAL GENETICS</span></a></li> <li class="section2"><a id="tab-molecules" onclick="showSection('molecules')" title="Molecules of Genetics"><span class="displace">MOLECULES OF GENETICS</span></a></li> <li class="section3"><a id="tab-organization" onclick="showSection('organization')" title="Genetic Organization and Control"><span class="displace">GENETIC ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL</span></a></li> </ul> <br class="clearfloat" /> </div>  <div id="holder-classical" class="concepts-holder" style="display:none"> <div class="concepts-left"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/1/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/1-thumb-sm.png" alt="1. Children resemble their parents." />Children resemble their parents.</a></li> <li><a href="/2/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/2-thumb-sm.png" alt="2. Genes come in pairs." />Genes come in pairs.</a></li> <li><a href="/3/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/3-thumb-sm.png" alt="3. Genes don't blend." />Genes don't blend.</a></li> <li><a href="/4/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/4-thumb-sm.png" alt="4. Some genes are dominant." />Some genes are dominant.</a></li> <li><a href="/5/ "><img src="/images/thumbnails/5-thumb-sm.png" alt="5. Genetic inheritance follows rules." />Genetic inheritance follows rules.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-middle"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/6/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/6-thumb-sm.png" alt="6. Genes are real things." />Genes are real things.</a></li> <li><a href="/7/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/7-thumb-sm.png" alt="7. All cells arise from pre-existing cells." />All cells arise from pre-existing cells.</a></li> <li><a href="/8/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/8-thumb-sm.png" alt="8. Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two." />Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two.</a></li> <li><a href="/9/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/9-thumb-sm.png" alt="9. Specialized chromosomes determine sex." />Specialized chromosomes determine sex.</a></li> <li><a href="/10/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/10-thumb-sm.png" alt="10. Chromosomes carry genes." />Chromosomes carry genes.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-right"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/11/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/11-thumb-sm.png" alt="11. Genes get shuffled when chromosomes exchange pieces." />Genes get shuffled when chromosomes exchange pieces.</a></li> <li><a href="/12/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/12-thumb-sm.png" alt="12. Evolution begins with the inheritance of gene variations." />Evolution begins with the inheritance of gene variations.</a></li> <li><a href="/13/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/13-thumb-sm.png" alt="13. Mendelian laws apply to human beings." />Mendelian laws apply to human beings.</a></li> <li ><a href="/14/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/14-thumb-sm.png" alt="14. Mendelian genetics cannot fully explain human health and behavior." />Mendelian genetics cannot fully explain human health and behavior.</a> </li> <li><img src="/images/thumbnails/section1-graph.jpg" alt="Classical Genetics" /></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="holder-molecules" style="display:none" class="concepts-holder"> <div class="concepts-left"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/15/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/15-thumb-sm.png" alt="15. DNA and proteins are key molecules of the cell nucleus." />DNA and proteins are key molecules of the cell nucleus.</a></li> <li><a href="/16/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/16-thumb-sm.png" alt="16. One gene makes one protein." />One gene makes one protein.</a></li> <li><a href="/17/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/17-thumb-sm.png" alt="17. A gene is made of DNA." />A gene is made of DNA.</a></li> <li><a href="/18/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/18-thumb-sm.png" alt="18. Bacteria and viruses have DNA too." />Bacteria and viruses have DNA too.</a></li> <li><a href="/19/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/19-thumb-sm.png" alt="19. The DNA molecule is shaped like a twisted ladder." />The DNA molecule is shaped like a twisted ladder.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-middle"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/20/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/20-thumb-sm.png" alt="20. A half DNA ladder is a template for copying the whole." />A half DNA ladder is a template for copying the whole.</a></li> <li><a href="/21/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/21-thumb-sm.png" alt="21. RNA is an intermediary between DNA and protein." />RNA is an intermediary between DNA and protein.</a></li> <li><a href="/22/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/22-thumb-sm.png" alt="22. DNA words are three letters long." />DNA words are three letters long.</a></li> <li><a href="/23/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/23-thumb-sm.png" alt="23. A gene is a discrete sequence of DNA nucleotides." />A gene is a discrete sequence of DNA nucleotides.</a></li> <li><a href="/24/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/24-thumb-sm.png" alt="24. The RNA message is sometimes edited." />The RNA message is sometimes edited.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-right"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/25/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/25-thumb-sm.png" alt="25. Some viruses store genetic information in RNA." />Some viruses store genetic information in RNA.</a></li> <li><a href="/26/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/26-thumb-sm.png" alt="26. RNA was the first genetic molecule." />RNA was the first genetic molecule.</a></li> <li><a href="/27/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/27-thumb-sm.png" alt="27. Mutations are changes in genetic information." />Mutations are changes in genetic information.</a></li> <li><a href="/28/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/28-thumb-sm.png" alt="28. Some types of mutations are automatically repaired." />Some types of mutations are automatically repaired.</a></li> <li><img src="/images/thumbnails/section2_graph.jpg" alt="MOLECULES OF GENETICS" /> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="holder-organization" class="concepts-holder" style="display:none"> <div class="concepts-left"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/29/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/29-thumb-sm.png" alt="29. DNA is packaged in a chromosome." />DNA is packaged in a chromosome.</a></li> <li><a href="/30/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/30-thumb-sm.png" alt="30. Higher cells incorporate an ancient chromosome." />Higher cells incorporate an ancient chromosome.</a></li> <li><a href="/31/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/31-thumb-sm.png" alt="31. Some DNA does not encode protein." />Some DNA does not encode protein.</a></li> <li><a href="/32/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/32-thumb-sm.png" alt="32. Some DNA can jump." />Some DNA can jump.</a></li> <li><a href="/33/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/33-thumb-sm.png" alt="33. Genes can be turned on and off." />Genes can be turned on and off.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-middle"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/34/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/34-thumb-sm.png" alt="34. Genes can be moved between species." />Genes can be moved between species.</a></li> <li><a href="/35/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/35-thumb-sm.png" alt="35. DNA responds to signals from outside the cell." />DNA responds to signals from outside the cell.</a></li> <li><a href="/36/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/36-thumb-sm.png" alt="36. Different genes are active in different kinds of cells." />Different genes are active in different kinds of cells.</a></li> <li><a href="/37/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/37-thumb-sm.png" alt="37. Master genes control basic body plans." />Master genes control basic body plans.</a></li> <li><a href="/38/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/38-thumb-sm.png" alt="38. Development balances cell growth and death." />Development balances cell growth and death.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="concepts-right"> <ul class="sections-home"> <li><a href="/39/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/39-thumb-sm.png" alt="39. A genome is an entire set of genes." />A genome is an entire set of genes.</a></li> <li><a href="/40/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/40-thumb-sm.png" alt="40. Living things share common genes." />Living things share common genes.</a></li> <li><a href="/41/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/41-thumb-sm.png" alt="41. DNA is only the beginning for understanding the human genome." />DNA is only the beginning for understanding the human genome.</a></li> <li><img src="/images/thumbnails/section3_graph.jpg" alt="GENETIC ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL" /> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="description-home"> <h3> <em>DNA from the Beginning</em> is organized around key concepts.</h3> <h4> The science behind each concept is explained by: <br /> animation, image gallery, video interviews, problem, biographies, and links.</h4> </div> <div id="home-center" > <div id="home-center-inner" > <div id="home-feature"> <dl style="width:100%;"> <dt>About the DNA Learning Center</dt> <dd class="blog"> Since the DNA Learning Center was established in 1988, we've been advancing genetics education for students and families. We deliver biotechnology instruction through laboratory field trips, summer camps, and independent research programs for students in New York and beyond. More than 750,000 middle and high school students have experienced our hands-on approach to science instruction over the last 35+ years. 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