Meet Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys who discovered DNA fingerprinting, a separating technique which is used by forensic scientists to help them solve crimes. Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys was born in 1950 in Oxford. His love of science started as a child when he enjoyed making small explosions with his chemistry set and dissecting insects to…
Easter Science Video: The Easter Bilby
In most parts of the world the Easter Bunny hides chocolate eggs for children to find on Easter Sunday. However, in Australia things are a little different; children get their eggs from the Easter Bilby. In this video we are introduced to this curious creature and discover why the Easter Bunny is not welcome in…
Smart Facts – The Use of Gene Banks
The use of Gene Banks Scientists are unsure of exactly how many species of living things there are on Earth. Estimates range from 8 million to 100 million. As of April 2014, Scientists have identified 5 million species living on Earth. All of the species that scientists have identified, the species we are yet…
Science Resources – Free worksheet on Discovery of DNA
Free Worksheet on DNA The free worksheet teaching resource contains questions about DNA which are based on the model used in the Smart Science series, but can be easily used with your students, whether you use Smart Science in your classroom or not. Download your free science resources below: Worksheet as PDF: Worksheet DNA…
Smart Facts – DNA
Smart Facts – DNA 1. DNA is found inside in the nucleus of every cell in our body (apart from red blood cells as they don’t have a nucleus). 2. If you unravelled the DNA from all of your cells and laid out it out end to end, the strand would stretch from the Earth…
Free Science Video – What is DNA?
Some of your students may want to find out more about how DNA works. This video: explains it in a clear way that they will understand. DNA explained The video uses clear graphics to explain DNA. It starts by looking at its molecular structure, then goes on to how minute differences in the DNA…
Homework Activity – Famous Family Inheritance
Famous Family Inheritance – a homework task about inheritance for KS3 students Here is a simple but fun activity that your students can complete during a topic on inheritance. Each student will need: • Access to the internet/newspapers/magazines Student instructions Take a look through some newspapers, magazines or use an internet search…
Scientist Biography: Rosalind Franklin – Science and DNA
Meet Smart Scientist Rosalind Franklin whose work helped discover the structure of DNA Why not use this Smart Scientist Biog to inform your students about scientist Rosalind Franklin and how her pioneering work using x-ray crystallography helped lead to the discovery of the structure of DNA. This resource explores in more depth one of the…
Oops! When science goes wrong – DNA and mutations
A great way to extend your more able students when studying DNA is to take a look at what happens when the DNA code goes wrong and mutations occur. Why not share with them this story of an extraordinary cat. Meet Yoda – the cat with a mutation Yoda the cat has an extra…