An illustration of crossing two flowers and getting an unknown offspring
Play Garden Gene Genius

Our genes control much of how we look and who we are. But do you really know how genetics work? Take a moment to gather some genetic seeds as you learn about Punnett squares, alleles, and more in Garden Gene Genius.

To learn more about genetics and DNA, visit DNA ABCs.

An ultrasound showing a blurry image of a fetus.
Written by: 
Megha Pillai and Logan Hunt
We start off as a single tiny cell, and yet somehow we are born as whole humans. Get to know the stages of that process and how quickly we develop.
A scientist with a face mask and hair net holds a syringe in front of a microscope.
Written by: 
Tazeen Ulhaque and Whitney Alexandria Tuoti
Sometimes, despite trying really hard, a person is unable to get pregnant. Scientists and doctors have come up with ways to help. Learn about one of those methods, which is called in vitro fertilization, or IVF.
An illustration of different cell sizes and a ruler, to measure N:C ratios
Play the Cell Size SIM

Certain cell types should have a general size and have proportionate parts. But what if those sizes and proportions are different than they should be? The size of the nucleus versus the size of the cytoplasm in a cell is an important measure – it can tell us if something might be wrong with that cell. Explore more about this "NC ratio" in Cell Size SIM.

To learn more about cells, visit The Building Blocks of Life.

Four colorful striped flags representing the gender fluid, agender, non-binary, and trans people.
Written by: 
Risa Aria Schnebly
There are more genders than just “man” or “woman” that a person can identify as. Let’s explore a variety of gender identities and learn about their history.
An illustration of rainbow figures with symbols typically associated with being male or female mixed up to indicate a diversity of sexes and genders.
Written by: 
Risa Aria Schnebly
You might have heard of both gender and sex before, but what’s the difference? Sex is based in the biology of body parts, but gender is socially constructed and based on much more.
The silhouette of a pregnant person with a fetus inside, and different shapes symbolizing blood types.
Written by: 
Logan Hunt
A pregnant person's blood type is usually compatible with the fetus’s blood type. But what happens when that’s not the case?
Water pouring out of a pipe, carrying viruses and bacteria
Written by: 
Christopher Albin-Brooks
While our water may look crystal clear, there are actually countless microbes that live in it. Kerry Hamilton is working to find the bad bacteria in our water and to learn how we can manage these organisms.
A picture taken over an extended time period, showing the glow of luminescent mushrooms, also called "foxfire," on a tree in a forest at night
Written by: 
Elodie Batt
Strange greenish lights can be seen at night in the forest. But who are these pre-planned signals for?
An illustration of a white fish silhouette with a question mark in the middle, for the species identifying game Keys to the Ocean
Play the Keys to the Ocean Game

Our world is full of different plants, animals, bacteria, and other life. But how do we know which species is which? Scientists have built tools called taxonomic keys that help us do this. Take a trip to the ocean to help researchers identify different species of fish and zooplankton in Keys to the Ocean.

To learn more about taxonomy and species identification, visit our story page about Taxonomy.

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