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Unit 2: Mechanisms of Inheritance

Kara Layton sous l'eau en habit de plongée sous-marine

Kara Layton

Postdoctoral Fellow

Kara Layton is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Measuring radiation in Chernobyl

Radiation Effects on the Body

Backgrounders

This backgrounder explains the potential effects of radiation on the human body.

Photo de Paul Gordon au travail

Paul Gordon

Bioinformatics Manager

Paul Gordon is a Bioinformatics Manager at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute.
Red-haired woman

The Chemistry of Redheads

STEM Explained

Learn how chemistry and genetics makes redheads stand out from the crowd.

Mitosis of kidney cells © Ian P Newton & Paul L Appleton [CC BY-SA 4.0], Wikimedia Commons

What is Mitosis?

Backgrounders

Mitosis is an important part of cell division that helps organisms grow and repair themselves.

DNA barcoding used to test food

The Classification of Life: From Linnaeus to DNA Barcoding

Backgrounders

Learn about two taxonomy systems that scientists use to classify the life around us.

Cartoon mammoth

Should Scientists Clone Extinct Species?

STEM Explained

Cloning makes it possible to bring extinct species back to life. But is that a good idea?

Down Syndrome karyotype

Meiosis Mistakes

STEM Explained

Errors during meiosis can alter the number of chromosomes in cells and lead to genetic disorders.

A 3D-rendered illustration of stem cells

My Stem Cell Donation Story

STEM Explained

In April 2016, Let’s Talk Science volunteer Daniel Tarade donated stem cells to help a person who needed a stem cell transplant to survive. Learn what stem cells are, how and why people donate, and what Daniel’s experience was like.

DNA "unzipping"

How can I obtain a sample of DNA?

Hands-on Activities

Be a biochemist! Learn how to extract DNA from an onion and find out what DNA looks like.

 An artist’s interpretation of gene editing technology

Genome Editing

STEM Explained

Medical biotechnology allows scientists to make changes to the genomes of living things. What are the pros and cons of having access to techniques like these?

Hand with screwdriver “repairing” DNA

DNA Damage and Repair

Backgrounders

This backgrounder explains the different ways that cells repair damage to DNA.

a boy looks at a hamburger

Do You Know What's On Your Plate?

STEM Explained

In 2013, many Europeans learned their beef lasagnas were actually made of horse meat. Learn about food fraud, and how a Canadian invention can help detect it.

Test tubes in a laboratory

DNA Extraction

Backgrounders

Learn the basics of how DNA can be extracted from cells.

Damage to DNA

Radiation Effects on Cells & DNA

Backgrounders

This backgrounder explains the effects of radiation on cells and DNA.