Epigenetics animation clips for Windfall Films

Equinox Graphics produced a series of animations to illustrate the concept of Epigenetics, whereby chemical markers on DNA can switch genes on and off - and these markers can be inherited; environmental pressures on a parent can lead to adaptation in the child. So it's not just about which genes a child inherits - their traits can be dictated by which of those genes are activated or suppressed.

Clip 1) Clip showing genes in a DNA section switching on an off;

Clip 2) The concept of the Epigenome - chemical markers on the backbone of the DNA which control the expression/suppression of genes;

Clip 3) This sequence shows DNA coiling around support structures called histones, which then further coil into a compact superstructure (eventually the DNA will be would up still further into chromosomes). The structure is "scanned" which represents the reading of the DNA. "Histone deacetylation" causes the structure to compact tighter, making some of the DNA inaccessible, and leading to read failures (i.e. non-expression of that gene).

Clip 4) Methylation is shown here, whereby a carbon with three hydrogens (methyl group) attaches to specific points on the DNA backbone, and this chemical marker prevents that section of the DNA being read.

Clip 5) Another scanning analogy, showing the methylation of the histone/DNA structure, and the subsequent read failures.

Windfall Films is one of the leading producers of science & technology programmes, and their science documentaries consistently breathe life into potentially dry subjects.

Please contact us for more information. www.equinoxgraphics.net

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cell
• DNA
• animation
• science
• epigenetic
• histone
• gene
• switching
• methylation
• acetylation
• epigenome

[TheRationalizer]

This would be so much better with narration.

[equinoxgraphics]

@TheRationalizer I agree - we're not involved with the narration recording unfortunately, and I think it's still a work in progress. I'll try to get the rights to dub the narration over the clips if possible, when it's ready. It's just eye candy for the time being, rather than educational eye candy :)

[MethylMajor]

Methylation of the DNA backbone? No, of one of the nucleotide bases (on the inside)

[TheRationalizer]

@equinoxgraphics

Oh yes, it's very obvious what the purpose is, but with a really good sound track added it would be VERY impressive.

You don't have an animation at the atom level for what fire looks like I could use do you? :)