PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION

DNA Interactive (DNAi) is a multimedia resource for high school and introductory college biology that shows how we came to understand the language of DNA, how we bend it to our own service, and what it can tell us about who we are. The DNAi products -- an award-winning website (www.dnai.org) and the DVD -- are the result of a two-year collaboration between scientists, educators, and film-makers on three continents. It includes more than 200 video clips and animations; video interviews with 11 Nobel Laureates and more than 50 other scientists, clinicians and patients; and spectacular 3D animations that illustrate intracellular processes and explore aspects of DNA science.

REVIEW

This BAFTA-award-winning yet inexpensive educational DVD contains numerous short interviews with scientists, many of them Nobel laureates, who have played a major role or continue to work principally in human molecular biology. There are also computer animations showing key techniques and processes. To faciliate use of the video clips they are grouped in several ways e.g., by theme or by interviewee. The material is aimed mostly at 16-19 year-old biology students.

Many if not most of the clips have been culled from a five-part Channel 4/PBS television series made to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA double helix. (This series of five 50-minute programmes, 'DNA - The story of the pioneers who changed the world' -- is available on two DVDs from the production company, Windfall Films Ltd.)

The most spectacular and impressive sequences are undoubtedly the molecular animations showing DNA replication, coiling and protein synthesis. These were created by Drew Berry at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia. Coupled with the ability to choose the level of sophistication of the accompanying spoken commentary, these superb clips form an extremely useful addition to teaching resources for post-16 students. (The clips, without labelling and commentary, can be viewed here.)

Other animations taken from the television series vary in quality and some, such as that showing simple DNA replication are clearly intended for a different, general audience (indeed, the voiceover indicates the DVD-makers' recognition of the replication clip's shortcomings -- the DNA molecules consist simply of bases with no sugar-phosphate backbones). Some of the other explanations are disappointing, such as that of DNA microarrays which really leaves the viewer none-the-wiser (see Davidson College's wonderfully entertaining Flash animation if you wish to understand this technology better).

The principal feature of the 'DNA interactive' DVD is its interviews with scientists who were and are at the forefront of molecular genetics. Where else could you find Francis Crick, Jim Watson, Maurice Wilkins, François Jacob, Benno Müller-Hill, Sydney Brenner, Paul Berg, Wally Gilbert, Herb Boyer, Stanley Cohen, Kary Mullis, Alec Jeffreys, Svante Pääbo and the other creators of molecular genetics talking about their work? (It is rather a shame that the DVD was not produced five or ten years ago, before several of the pioneers of molecular biology had died.)

Be warned that many of the DVD's 200 clips are little more than short 'soundbites', and that to be used effectively in an educational context they would require supporting materials. Fortunately, the producers have realised this and there is also a complementary free-to-access Web site at the Dolan DNA Learning Center which presents a great deal of additional, highly valuable educational material: www.dnai.org (registration required to access teachers' resources).

SPONSORS

The 'DNA interactive' project was funded mainly by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding came from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Channel 4 television and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

ORDERING

The 'DNA interactive' DVD may be ordered direct from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Web site: www.cshlpress.com

The DVD is also available to educational institutions at a discounted price directly from the Dolan DNA Learning Center itself (see the DNAi site for details).

IMPORTANT - NTSC FORMAT ONLY

Please note that this NTSC DVD will only play on a computer or DVD player that is compatible with the NTSC format (PAL-only DVD players are unsuitable).

A PAL version with an English commentary is available from the Red Green and Blue Company in London.

Copyright © National Centre for Biotechnology Education, 2006 | www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk