Reviews of Gene Journey

‘This educational website is a fantastic genetics resource aimed at helping students to understand how the science of genetics impacts on the lives of those with genetic conditions. There are clear, simple animations explaining basic concepts in genetics, video clips giving an insight into the lives of those with genetic conditions and a virtual cytogenetics lab which allows the user to carry out the analysis of a sample of amniotic fluid.
The site was developed with scientific advice from a number of experts and is suitable for students ranging from GCSE to undergraduate level.’

BioNews: Recommends
http://www.bionews.org.uk

‘We have used Gene Journey software... It was a tremendous success as judged both by feedback from students over usability and in their reports clarifying the more complex topics of several forms of meiotic non-disjunction.’

Dr Kevin Moffat, Biological Sciences,
Warwick University

‘A simple, easy to use interface with easily accessible and clear information, compared to a typical maze of menus and options on other software I have used.’

Jon Lewis, Biochemistry Undergraduate
Warwick University

‘I have used the site with GCSE and sixth form students for homework tasks and extension activities. I was a big fan of the Illumination CD-ROM... and am very impressed with the additional features on the website.

Allowing pupils access to the site individually means that they can run through cell division as many times as they wish to understand it.’

Cathy Spencer, Biology Teacher,
Wallington School

‘Loved all of it... really helped me to get a clearer understanding of how processes worked out in practice. Can now visualise it in my head better!’

Katy Brown, Biological Sciences Undergraduate,
Warwick University.

‘Animations were excellent, easy to follow and complete. Cleared up any confusion I had before using the software. The explanations were also good, covering lots of relevant information.’

Alice Edgeworth, Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate,
Warwick University.

Mitosis and Meiosis

‘The interactive quizzes engendered a fierce sense of competitiveness among individuals to try and be the best.’

Lindsay Craig,
Principal Teacher of Biology,
St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston.

‘We think it is brilliant. The diagrams are so clear, kept deliberately simple yet all the detail we need for our AS and A2 students. It is the best resource we have seen for the teaching of these topics.’

Marlene Griffin, Head of Biology,
Hitchin High School.

‘Nicely illustrated and explains complicated events in an understandable fashion. The clear diagrams and easy controls that allowed you to move through at your own pace.’

Heather Winebloom,
Biological Sciences undergraduate,
Warwick University

‘I am hugely impressed with the quality of the animations, as they are simply drawn and are presented at a pace which is neither too fast nor too slow... This program not only stands out from the crowd, it sets the benchmark by which other similar products should be measured...’

TEEM

‘This is a very good piece of software. I have not seen anything else on this subject which explains it as well as this... The information is presented in a step-by-step format with very clear, concise, excellent animations...’

School Science Review

‘Quizzes and a glossary help to reinforce the knowledge gained, and a series of nifty tasks make the learning fun, as the students have to put their knowledge into practice... The animations are outstanding yet simple, which makes the program even more valuable to science teachers.’

Education Guardian

‘If you are looking for a program which will help your students understand the wonderful world of genes, chromosomes, DNA and cell division, then look no further.’

George Cole, Web Extra Stories,
TES Online.

‘It clearly explains the stages, it is very easy to locate the part required and it is the right standard for the students. It is one of the best pieces of software I have seen for biology. A very useful teaching aid!’

Sylvia Capron,
Coquet High School

‘The pause function and scroll bar were really helpful as it allowed me to repeat sections I was unclear about. Also, the voice over made things clearer.’

Sara Smart,
Biological Sciences undergraduate,
Warwick University.

‘I like the clear, colourful animations of mitosis and meiosis. I like the fact that you can select the level of ability.’

Carol Drury, Biology Lecturer,
Langside College, Glasgow

‘Many resources available in this area tend to be too complex for use in schools, this resource was a breath of fresh air and valuable tool to teach this area of biology. It’s an amazing resource and I look forward to using it with my advanced higher pupils next year!’

Jennifer Sim, Biology Teacher,
Meldrum Academy, Aberdeenshire.

Comparison of Abnormal Mitosis and Meiosis

Joe Chaytor and Joe Grimes (on the right) use Gene Journey in a practical class.

‘Simple and informative. The program was simple to use and yet it still gave all the essential information. The ability to pause and fast forward through made it easier to pin point and find the exact parts we needed to find.’

Joseph Grimes, Biochemistry Student,
Warwick University

‘Animations were excellent, easy to follow and complete. Cleared up any confusion I had before using the software. The explanations were also good, covering lots of relevant information.’

Alice Edgeworth, Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate,
Warwick University

‘This is excellent as have never seen this done before and is much easier to understand with an animation.’

Jenni Rees-Jenkins, Biology Teacher,
Meldrum College, Aberdeenshire

Joe Chaytor and Joe Grimes (on the right) use Gene Journey in a practical class.

‘Easy and very useful to use and gives a clear image of the processes.’

Joe Chaytor,
Microbiology and Virology Student,
Warwick University

‘In three years of being taught meiosis, I never really understood it. Gene Journey has helped me to understand.’

Grace Siva,
Biological Sciences Undergraduate
Warwick University

‘Very good animations and explanations. These made it much easier to visualise the defects that could go wrong when animated, rather than trying to understand them just from words.’

Alice Edgeworth,
Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate
Warwick University

Video Viewpoints

Natalie discusses how her genetic condition has affected her life.

‘I liked the fact that people with genetic conditions were able to speak for themselves about their conditions.’

Carol Drury, Biology Lecturer,
Langside College, Glasgow

Jeff, who has Down Syndrome, talks about his life.

‘They were all very good, but I’ve got a soft spot for Jeff.’

Eli Ormerod, Dept. Medical Genetics
Ulleval University Hospital, Norway

Daniel, who has Down Syndrome, chats to his mum, Sophie.

‘Very interesting and useful! I could not stop watching them... would definitely use these regularly.’

Jenni Rees-Jenkins, Biology Teacher
Meldrum College, Aberdeenshire

Mark and Sophie discuss the birth of their son Daniel who has Down Syndrome.

‘We were very impressed with the interview with a family who had an unexpected birth of a baby with DS. It was a compilation of errors and insensitivity on all fronts and would be excellent to use for midwives and other health care professionals to reflect on aspects of their practice.’

Dr Pat Lund & Dr Jan Coveney
Snr Lecturers, Dept of Biomolecular &
Sports Science, Coventry University

Virtual Cytogenetics Laboratory

Jack is moving a tube of amniotic fluid into a flow cabinet.

‘I enjoyed using the Virtual Lab in class; it was fun being told what to do by my friends if I got stuck. I would also like to use it at home, where I can work at my own pace.’

Jack, GCSE Biology Student,
Wirral County Grammar School
for Boys

‘Made students understand the structure of a research lab. Useful for some of the units in the National Diploma in Medical Science course.’

Henna Mallick,
Lecturer of Access to Nursing,
Access to Science and the National Diploma in Medical Science Course,
Redbridge College, Essex.

Alison Priday and Dawn Nadim working through the tasks in the virtual lab.

‘Enjoyed using the amniocentesis lab... makes a refreshing change to the way training is given and as many people learn by 'doing', acts as an aid to facilitate learning for everyone.’

Alison Priday, Student Nurse,
Plymouth University

The microscope is used to examine cells grown from a sample of amniotic fluid.

‘I thought it was excellent and really enjoyed using it.’

Carol Drury, Biology Lecturer,
Langside College, Glasgow

Animations explain the process of PCR.

‘First of all, it is fun to work in a vitual lab, and second, the various methods (PCR-trisomy test, cytogenetics and lab procedures) were explained very well. The program is amazing and we love it! I will recommend it to every genetic lab.’

Eli Ormerod,
Department of Medical Genetics,
Ulleval University Hospital, Norway

Alison Priday and Dawn Nadim working through the tasks in the virtual lab.

‘I think your software is great, a really good teaching aid for students of all levels. The amniocentesis scenario really gave me an understanding of the process involved. It was easy to use with clear instructions and good graphic content.’

Dawn Nadim, Student Nurse,
Plymouth University

Chromosome Challenge

Oliver plays the Chromosome Challenge on an Interactive Whiteboard.

‘Really interesting, a great way to learn and much better than the way we did it in class when we had to cut out the chromosomes and stick them in a book.’

Oliver, GCSE Biology Student,
St Anselm’s Catholic College, Wirral

‘We find Chromosome Challenge is an excellent intoduction to the world of chromosome analysis. In Clinical Cytogenetics we work extensively on chromosome analysis using the microscope and this has proved to be a great way to give a taste of that to other healthcare professionals.

It is a very enjoyable piece of software to use and has been successful in the delivery of chromosome based teaching sessions to both undergraduate and postgraduate students...’

Gavin Cuthbert, National Training
Officer in Clinical Cytogenetics,
Institute of Human Genetics,
Newcastle upon Tyne

‘Loved this! Easy, fun and interesting, much better than what I do now which is cut out chromosomes and get the kids to stick it together in sequence.’

Jenni Rees-Jenkins,
Biology Teacher,
Meldrum Academy,
Aberdeenshire

Mark identifying chromosomes using the reference karyotype.

‘Very easily understandable format. Teaches the aims of the program very well’

Mark Wade,
MSc Student in Medical Genetics,
Institute of Human Genetics,
Newcastle upon Tyne