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Brief description of the Human Genome Poster
This poster features two themes--the molecular anatomy of the human genome, and a summary of different areas of genetic research.
The large, pink X-shape in the middle of the poster is a chromosome. Mapping all 23 pairs of human chromosomes is one of the goals of the Human Genome Project. These maps will reveal areas in the chromosomes that cause hereditary defects such as Cleft Palate and Hemophilia. Identifying these areas is the first step in finding a cure for these malevolent conditions.
From the chromosome, we see two leader lines flowing toward the right of the poster, expanding our view of the macromolecule, deoxyribonucleic acid, better known by its abbreviation, "DNA." DNA is composed of smaller molecules, which are featured further to the right on the poster. Those molecules are: thymine, adenine, cytosine, and guanine, which make up the "rungs" in the DNA "ladder". The ladder's rails are made up of a sequence of phosphate and deoxyribose molecules, running on both sides down the entire length of the DNA molecule.
In the majority of textbooks and articles concerning DNA, the rails are described as a "twisted pair" forming a "double helix." A computer model was used for our illustration. Initially we thought that one rail was simply a copy of the other, and then rotated 180 degrees. This provided a helical shape, but there were no "major" and "minor" grooves. We also found that the rungs weren't matching up with the copied rail. Each rung is rotated 36 degrees from the previous rung, forcing the molecular bonds further and further out of synch with the copied rail. In the end, it turns out that the second rail is in fact a mirror of the first rail, not a rotated copy. When we realized this, suddenly the bonds all lined up and the major and minor grooves were now there.
One feature of our model is that the atoms in the molecules are color coded, so that the chemical elements can be readily identified by students. The key at the bottom right of the poster shows that all atoms of nitrogen are blue, hydrogen is red, oxygen green, phosphorus yellow, and carbon grey. This roughly correlates with the emission color of each of these elements in a spectroscopic display. Also, the single and double bonds are accurately placed within these geometrically precise models.
On the left side of the poster, we find illustrations of other areas of genetic research ranging from agriculture to forensics to gene therapy. These illustrations were completed by April Hobart, using traditional watercolors and illustration paper.
This poster works as a companion to the Cosmic Evolution poster because its contents are relevant to the "biological era".