ABOUT
Genetic Reflections - A Coloring Book aims to inspire young students and the public to explore the beauty of science and genetics. The organisms in this book are considered ‘model’ organisms, as they are widely studied in laboratories with hopes to understand human biology, disease pathologies, and ways to improve agricultural crops. Despite the great differences in shape and size, on the genetic level there are lots of similarities. In every species, DNA sequences consist of the same four building blocks (G, C, A, and T). However, slight changes in their use, even in the same gene, can occur in each species. The way our bodies and cells work are well conserved throughout evolution, even in species that may look very different from us. The beauty of our world, even on the cellular level, is apparent.
This coloring book is a collaboration between Ahna Skop, Elif Kurt and Caitlin Marks; two UW-Madison undergraduate Skop Lab members. It is the outcome of a year-long independent study in Life Sciences Communication with goals to broadly disseminate the Genetic Reflections scientific glass art installation created by Angela Johnson and Ahna Skop. Part of the proceeds of this book will be donated to charities and programs that support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) educational innovations or public outreach events.
The book is available at Amazon (print) or on Blurb (digital version)
This coloring book is a collaboration between Ahna Skop, Elif Kurt and Caitlin Marks; two UW-Madison undergraduate Skop Lab members. It is the outcome of a year-long independent study in Life Sciences Communication with goals to broadly disseminate the Genetic Reflections scientific glass art installation created by Angela Johnson and Ahna Skop. Part of the proceeds of this book will be donated to charities and programs that support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) educational innovations or public outreach events.
The book is available at Amazon (print) or on Blurb (digital version)
MEET THE AUTHORS!
Dr. Ahna Skop
Professor & Scientist/Artist
Ahna Skop is a geneticist, artist, science communicator, and champion for the underrepresented in science. Her lab studies how cells divide. Cell division is highly dependent on visual data, which dovetails perfectly with one of her other passions, art. Ahna has several scientific art installations on the UW-Madison campus and she has also curated, and created several traveling science art exhibitions. She is equally passionate about increasing the numbers of underrepresented students in STEAM fields. Ahna majored in biology and minored in ceramics at Syracuse University, obtained her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at UW-Madison, and her post-doctoral work at UC-Berkeley. Ahna is a Professor in the Laboratory of Genetics and an affiliate faculty member in Life Sciences Communication and the Division of the Arts at the UW-Madison. One of her great hobbies is traveling and baking, including scientific cakes, and manages a foodblog, foodskop.com in her free time.
Hometown: New Haven, CT & Fort Thomas, KY |
Elif Kurt
Scientist/ArtistElif Kurt is a recent graduate with a major in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked on Genetic Reflections: A Coloring Book as part of her Independent Study LSC 299 course during her senior year. Elif is looking forward to applying to medical school in the near future and volunteers at the hospital in the meantime. She also tutors children in the sciences and uses art to teach topics that would normally appear daunting. As a diverse woman in the field of science, Elif is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the STEAM fields any chance she can get. She hopes to inspire others to get involved with science outreach at their own schools and communities. Elif enjoys spending time with her cat, practicing mindful thinking and meditation, and illustrating in her free time.
Hometown: Waunakee, WI |
Caitlin Marks
Scientist/ArtistCaitlin Marks is a recent graduate with a major in Genetics and Genomics and a certificate in Studio Arts from UW-Madison. Caitlin is excited to be applying to infectious disease focused PhD programs in hopes to someday work at the CDC or the WHO. She was the Vice-President of the Microbiology Club at the UW and was working to encourage other students to participate in science outreach and to volunteer at events to introduce science to kids and community members. Caitlin likes to spend time hiking and backpacking in state and national parks and is an avid bar trivia player. She also designs t-shirts and creates signs for weddings and events in her free time.
Hometown: Madison, WI |
Genetic Reflections Interactive Lesson
Before attending the Genetic Reflections Virtual Workshop,
please complete the following 3 items below:
please complete the following 3 items below:
Arabidopsis thaliana
| |||||||||||
| a.thaliana.pdf |
Caenorhabditis elegans
(Nematode)
| c.elegans.pdf |
Drosophila melanogaster
(Fruit fly)
| d.melanogaster.pdf |
Danio rerio
(Zebrafish)
| d.rerio.pdf |
Mus musculus
| |||||||||||
| m.musculus.pdf |
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Budding yeast)
| s.cerevisiae.pdf |
Xenopus tropicalis
(Western clawed frog)
| x.tropicalis.pdf |
Zea mays
(Maize or Corn)
| z.mays.pdf |
1. Pick ONE model organism that is used in research (above) and watch the video
2. After watching the video you picked, list 3 observations you made on a piece of paper.
3. Draw art inspired by the video of the model organism you chose on a piece of paper.
Be prepared to share with the class.
4. Then, choose the coloring page (PDF below the video) of the model organism you learned about, print it, and color it! Be prepared to share with the class.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
3. Draw art inspired by the video of the model organism you chose on a piece of paper.
Be prepared to share with the class.
4. Then, choose the coloring page (PDF below the video) of the model organism you learned about, print it, and color it! Be prepared to share with the class.
courtesy of Dr. Sharolyn Schulz
|
If you are interested in sharing your experience with Genetic Reflections: A Coloring Book with us:
Please email Dr. Ahna Skop skop@wisc.edu with a digital image (jpg or png) of your original genetics-inspired art or in photo of you and your coloring pages from Genetic Reflections: A Coloring Book |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Genetic Reflections scientific art piece and this associated coloring book would have not occurred without the generous support from the National Science Foundation (NSF,MCB-1716298), UW-Madison Biotech Center, the Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) (NSF, DMR-1720415), and the UW-Madison Laboratory of Genetics.
|
|
