DNA: Heredity and Beyond

        Welcome to DNA: Heredity and Beyond, an educational website designed and built by Barrett Parker and Matthew Heard for the ThinkQuest '98 competition. Our goal in writing this site was to create a place where people who wanted to learn about DNA and genetic science could do so without having to struggle through the technical terms. We wanted to present not only the scientific and technological aspects, but also to consider the possible applications and the ethical implications of those aspects.
        This site is broken out into several main areas. These areas are listed in the imagemap in the top frame. However, for your convenience, all the areas and a brief summary are listed here. Those not wishing to navigate with frames may click here.

Textbook
        The Textbook area covers everything you ever wanted to know about how DNA works. Reading through the Textbook area will give you a crash course in cellular biology, as well as a understanding of genetic copying and genetic inheritance.

Manipulating DNA
        While the Textbook area focuses on man's observations of DNA, the Manipulating DNA section explores the experimentation done by scientists in the realms of genetic engineering, genetic mapping, cloning, and DNA identification. This section also explores the ethics of these applications, as well as where the future may lead us.

Site Info
        The Site Info area contains information about the entry and the team, as well as the credits.

Forum
       One of the more interactive areas of the site, the Forum contains a discussion group where users can exchange ideas and opinions about genetic research and ethics. The Forum area also houses essays and other contributions written by various visitors.

Tours
        If you need to learn about a particular area of information, or just don't know where to start, you can take a tour of the site tailored to your needs. The tours guide you through the parts of the Textbook and Manipulating DNA areas that relate to what YOU want to know.

Surveys
        In the Survey section, you will be able to vote and look at the results of periodically updated polls, and find out what the visitors to this site think about the issues it presents.

		Textbook The Textbook area covers everything you ever wanted to know about how DNA works. Reading through the Textbook area will give you a crash course in cellular biology, as well as a understanding of genetic copying and genetic inheritance.

		Manipulating DNA While the Textbook area focuses on man's observations of DNA, the Manipulating DNA section explores the experimentation done by scientists in the realms of genetic engineering, genetic mapping, cloning, and DNA identification. This section also explores the ethics of these applications, as well as where the future may lead us.

		Site Info The Site Info area contains information about the entry and the team, as well as the credits.

		Forum One of the more interactive areas of the site, the Forum contains a discussion group where users can exchange ideas and opinions about genetic research and ethics. The Forum area also houses essays and other contributions written by various visitors.

		Tours If you need to learn about a particular area of information, or just don't know where to start, you can take a tour of the site tailored to your needs. The tours guide you through the parts of the Textbook and Manipulating DNA areas that relate to what YOU want to know.

		Surveys In the Survey section, you will be able to vote and look at the results of periodically updated polls, and find out what the visitors to this site think about the issues it presents.