Sculptures

'The DNA tree.' by Bethany Alcock, Sheridan Blake, Chris Culling and Oliver Shannon-Lepper (year 10).

The tree's branches are inspired by the double helical shape of DNA molecules. Notice that one of the DNA branches is split open. This shows how DNA replicates by opening and acting as a template for the two new halves of DNA. The leaves on the tree describe some characteristics controlled by genes. This group of students were particularly inspired by the idea that, there exist in our DNA, relic genes that are no longer functional, but did once control important features. See if you can spot any of the relic genes and use these to think about others that may exist. Perhaps in the future relic genes could be corrected, switched back on and birds display the features of dinosaurs!

'Nearly a girl.' By Charlie Dugdale, Stephen Vennell, Nikita Sadd and Brett Steggles (year 7)

This sculpture was inspired by a well known piece of biology: fertilisation. The students were interested in the idea that it is the sperm that determines the sex of the offspring. They have shown this in their sculpture by painting the sperm different colours. The biology behind this is that all eggs contain an X chromosome and can become either male or female. Sperm, however, have either an X chromosome which will produce a female child or a Y chromosome which will produce a male child. Because half sperm carry an X chromosome and the other half a Y chromosome, there is a 50% chance of a boy or a girl.

'Sex cells get up your nose!' by Jacob Waddington and Adam Wells (year 9)

This sculpture shows one of the many shapes of pollen grains. Most pollen grains have these beautiful structures and the pollen can be identified by its shape using a microscope. Pollen is the male sex cell and the equivalent of sperm in plants. This group of students were inspired by the idea that at certain times of the year these incredible shapes are in the atmosphere and cause some people hay fever.

'Standing chromosome.' by Jenny Fennell, Laura Battigan and Morgan Fox (years 7 and 9)

Most of human cells contain 46 chromosomes. Like all multi-cellular organisms, you inherited half of your chromosomes from your mother and half from your father. Chromosomes when seen down the microscope look a bit like sausages as shown in the bottom half of this sculpture. The top half of the sculpture shows the double helical structure of the DNA. Along the DNA is the language of our genes which is made up from four different letters: G, C, A and T. These students became very interested in how or whether our lives are determined and shaped by our DNA. In particular they were interested in what determines who becomes a celebrity as can be seen by the images on the chromosome base.

'Pac-man protects us.' By Lucy Allen and Summer Plane (years 7 and 8).

White blood cells move around our bodies and help to remove bacteria, fungi and viruses that might otherwise cause disease. Some white blood cells do this by literally engulfing the disease causing pathogen and are called phagocytes. These students liked the idea that millions of these 'pac-men' exist in our bodies protecting us from disease. The sculpture shows a poor virus being engulfed by a phagocyte. The students also found out that the phagocyte can recognise the pathogen by antigens on its surface. Look and you can see these on the virus.