News and Reviews
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
Human Genetics Commission Workshop with Schools, Liverpool, September 2009
Nobel Prize winner, John Sulston, chaired the workshop with students from five Cheshire and Merseyside schools.
Tina Read is a member of the Human Genetics Commission Consultative Panel. She worked with the commission to organise their first workshop with school students. They were invited to discuss a series of issues relating to human genetics with Commissioners and to answer a series of questions on each issue:
‘It was brilliant to have my views taken into account alongside the country's top scientists.’
GCSE student, Neston High School
Genetics Workshop is featured in the Lancashire Evening Post, June 2009
Tina shows Becci Hughes and Will Bell how just a single base pair deletion in her DNA has caused her own inherited bone condition.
Dr Tina Read ran a workshop at Preston Sports and Technology College with GCSE triple science students about genetic testing in children. Video from Gene Journey was used in the workshop and the students had an animated debate:
‘It has been good as we have learnt about the two different sides of the argument from everybody.’
Becci Hughes
‘Fun, interesting and informative.’
Will Bell
Doctor Who comes to the Wirral ...and wins.
Tina Read and members of the animation group at Oakfield Day Service with their award.
The second Wirral International Film Festival finished with an awards evening on Friday 4th of December 2009. The festival is organised by Alan Veste and Phil Bimpson; they select the winner for one of the three overall awards, hence the name the Special Vesbim Award. It is given for an outstanding achievement. This year’s winner of this award was Tina Read and the Oakfield Day Service for an animation about Dr Who coming to Liverpool called ‘From Oakfiends to Ironmen’ and for the documentary about how the animation was made.
Tina has run workshops and made animations with children and adults. An animation she made with her own children and others from Greasby Junior School won the Children's Award. Tina would particularly like to work with groups to make animations on scientific subjects.
Gene Journey is featured in Triple Science News
Learning and Skills Network (LSN) run the Triple Science Support Programme which is designed to make Triple Science GCSEs more widely available to pupils in English maintained schools. Learning Skills Network produce Triple Science News; Gene Journey has been featured in two recent editions.
The Video Viewpoints section of Gene Journey consists of five hours of video footage divided into easy to use short clips. This section includes video of people affected by genetic conditions and people whose work involves genetics. All the participants in the second group talk about the influences on their own career choices. These interviews are the basis of the Spring 2009 article.
Click on an image below to view the document (PDF).
Spring 2009 Edition of Triple Science News.
This article is based on the new Video Viewpoints 2 section of Gene Journey.
Summer 2008 Edition of Triple Science News.
This article highlights the main features of Gene Journey.