NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA

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published by the WGBH Educational Foundation

This animation explores the miniature world of DNA through a series of illustrations that "zoom in" from macroscale to the extremely tiny (nanoscale). It travels downward in magnitude from cellular structure through chromosomes, chromatin, the DNA double-helix, and ends with the molecular structure of a single nucleotide. It was designed to help learners grasp the scale of DNA and see that an object as tiny as a single living cell is huge when compared to the molecules that make up DNA.

Please note that this resource requires Flash.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
General Physics - Properties of Matter Other Sciences - Chemistry	- Middle School - High School - Informal Education	- Instructional Material = Activity = Model = Tutorial - Audio/Visual = Image/Image Set

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators - General Publics	- application/flash - text/html	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2006 WGBH Educational Foundation
Keywords:: DNA, biochemistry, chromatin, chromosomes, double-helix, molecular structure, nucleotide
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created August 19, 2011 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: July 16, 2016 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: May 30, 2011
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Next Generation Science Standards

Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)

Structure and Function (LS1.A)

All cells contain genetic information in the form of DNA molecules. Genes are regions in the DNA that contain the instructions that code for the formation of proteins. (9-12)

Inheritance of Traits (LS3.A)

Each chromosome consists of a single very long DNA molecule, and each gene on the chromosome is a particular segment of that DNA. The instructions for forming species' characteristics are carried in DNA. All cells in an organism have the same genetic content, but the genes used (expressed) by the cell may be regulated in different ways. Not all DNA codes for a protein; some segments of DNA are involved in regulatory or structural functions, and some have no as-yet known function. (9-12)

Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)

Structure and Function (K-12)

Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the shapes, composition, and relationships among its parts, therefore complex natural structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function. (6-8)
The functions and properties of natural and designed objects and systems can be inferred from their overall structure, the way their components are shaped and used, and the molecular substructures of its various materials. (9-12)

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4D. The Structure of Matter

6-8: 4D/M1a. All matter is made up of atoms, which are far too small to see directly through a microscope.
6-8: 4D/M1cd. Atoms may link together in well-defined molecules, or may be packed together in crystal patterns. Different arrangements of atoms into groups compose all substances and determine the characteristic properties of substances.
6-8: 4D/M6c. Carbon and hydrogen are common elements of living matter.

6. The Human Organism

6A. Human Identity

9-12: 6A/H1. The similarity of humans in their cell chemistry and DNA sequences reinforces the idea that all humans are part of a single species.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.

11D. Scale

6-8: 11D/M3. Natural phenomena often involve sizes, durations, and speeds that are extremely small or extremely large. These phenomena may be difficult to appreciate because they involve magnitudes far outside human experience.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=11408">WGBH Educational Foundation. NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, May 30, 2011.</a>

AIP Format

(WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2006), WWW Document, (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html).

AJP/PRST-PER

NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2006), <https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html>.

APA Format

NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA. (2011, May 30). Retrieved May 2, 2025, from WGBH Educational Foundation: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html

Chicago Format

WGBH Educational Foundation. NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, May 30, 2011. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html (accessed 2 May 2025).

MLA Format

NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, 2006. 30 May 2011. 2 May 2025 <https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA}, Publisher = {WGBH Educational Foundation}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {2 May 2025}, Month = {May 30, 2011}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%T NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA %D May 30, 2011 %I WGBH Educational Foundation %C Boston %U https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html %O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D May 30, 2011 %T NOVA: Journey Into Human DNA %I WGBH Educational Foundation %V 2025 %N 2 May 2025 %8 May 30, 2011 %9 application/flash %U https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/journey-into-human-dna.html

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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