Welcome!

Discovering the Genome is a web-based curriculum for science classes. The curriculum consists of modules that introduce genomics to students.  The modules include videos, activities, discussion questions, and other tools so students can  explore and discover the genome.

Course Module Features

  • Modules are listed on the left in order of foundational topics to more advanced topics.
  • Modules are designed to be self-contained and can be used as a whole or in sections that enhance your existing curriculum.
  • Module descriptions and educator tips are in the For Teachers section of the website.
  • Modules can be used in any order that is appropriate for your students.

Genomics is an exciting, quickly advancing technical field. It affects healthcare, food production, natural resources management, and environmental conservation. It stimulates bioengineering and synthetic biology solutions. It answers questions about biology and life that haven’t answered before. It poses many more new questions. We invite you and your students to discover the genome…

J. Kim Lab

Comparison to See Which Genes Are Expressed in Different Cells

A heat map of gene expression for single cells. Each column in the heat map shows expression of a set of genes for each cell, with the color indicating expression intensity. Adi = fat cells, Car = heart cells, Pyc = neurons from cortex, Pyh = neurons from hippocampus, and Ser = neurons that produce serotonin. The rows show the genes; the names of the genes are on the left. The genes are grouped by their known functions in each of the five cell types measured in this experiment (called "Marker Genes" because they mark each cell type by the presence of these gene expressions). More information about the lab that generated this work is here.