About Genetrix Site

About this site

This website and the associated WebQuest were developed as part of the requirements of IT712, a course toward a Diploma in ICT in Education through Christchurch College of Education in New Zealand.

The name of the site came about by me trying to be clever. I wanted a short name that said what it was about. My original idea was Gene Net Tricks (Gene for genetics, Net for internet, and Tricks for the graphics and games I intended using, plus it just happens to have my name in it!) When it came to choose a password for the Geocities sign-on, the contraction to Genetrix came to me in a flash of inspiration. The 4u was added as an afterthought when Geocities wouldn't allow the Genetrix alone. A google search for Genetrix later on showed me why. It seems that this is a popular word for all sorts of things from ancient venus genetrix statues to modern software companies. Oh well - too late to change now!

Most of the writing of the web pages was done using the Open Source authoring program, Nvu. Some of the work was done typing code into notepad then copying into Nvu. A fair amount of time was also spent fiddling with the source HTML to actually make things work using Yahoo! Geocities "Advanced HTML editor".

I suspect that there is a lot of unnecessary html code hiding back there. Nvu seems to find it necessary to add more html than is really necessary. Also, I found that some excess code remains in the source when you delete material on the "preview" window. Lack of time meant I gave up trying to go through and tidy it all up.

I chose Genetics as the theme for my Website and Quest as it has always been my favourite area of Biology and an area in which I would like to think I am fairly knowledgeable. Also, in discussions with colleagues earlier in the year, I was informed that their year 10 classes would be covering genetics in term 4 when I would be ready to trial my work.

The content of the site was chosen to cover Achievement Objective 3 of "Making sense of the Living World: Level 5 " from "Science in the New Zealand Curriculum",

"investigate patterns in the inheritance of genetically controlled characteristics and explain the importance of variation within a changing environment, e.g., simple monohybrid genetics, human reproduction, genetically controlled human characteristics such as eye colour, asexual and sexual reproduction in plants;"

In some areas the content on the site goes beyond the basic Level 5 material. It could also be used for teaching level 6.

As for the graphics employed on several pages. Most I drew as outlines by hand then scanned them using my hp psc 1210 scanner/printer. They were scanned into Microsoft Paint and then coloured and altered if necessary. It should be mentioned that I am mildly red/green colourblind, and although most of the graphics were vetted by family members, it may be possible that some unusual combinations or colourings sneaked through.

The idea for the mouse-over animation came when I originally intended to use mouse-over buttons on every page for the links at the side. Then I re-read the instructions for the project and decided not to. In the meantime however, I wondered if the java code for those buttons would work on any graphic. A bit of experimentation showed it did, and ideas of how to employ it to engage the readers started flooding through my mind. Unfortunately they are a little slow to load on dial-up. I am hoping this doesn't cost me a pass in this project - but it was fun!

I chose to locate my website a Yahoo! Geocities rather than the college site as I was not sure for how long the College will retain students' sites. I have also used Geocities earlier in the year to host an even more amateurish effort I produced for another course, and found them reliable and with useful uploading and editing facilities.

Acknowledgments

Most of what you see on this site is entirely my own work. I did use two Microsoft animated clip art graphics on the heading of the WebQuest and the graphic on the detective agency "stationery" was inspired by a Microsoft clipart graphic but amended to suit my needs.

The Genetrix4u heading was generated using Flamingtext.com and it is here where you can generate the mouse-over buttons that inspired me to adapt their java code to produce my changing graphics.

Yahoo! Geocities must be acknowledged for hosting the website.

The WebQuest is based on the headings and instructions from The WebQuest Page
(But I did not actually use their templates).

Bibliography

Asimov, I. (1984) Asimov’s new guide to science. (Revised ed.). Aylesbury, Great Britain: Viking.

Brody, D.E. & Brody, A.R. (1997) The science class you wish you had. St. Leonard’s, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Bryson, B. (2004) A short history of nearly everything. London, Great Britain: Black Swan.

Clark, G.C., Jenkins, P.F., Knox, G.A., Torrie, A.W. & Woodward, K.M. (1969) Biological Science Processes and patterns of life. Wellington, N.Z. A.R. Shearer, Government Printer.

Goodenough, U. (1984) Genetics. ( 3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA. U.S.A.: Holt-Saunders.

Hook, G. (2000) Science Year 11. Auckland, N.Z.: New House.

Ministry of Education (1994) Science in the New Zealand Curriculum. Wellington N.Z.: learning Media Ltd.

Moore, R. (1964) Evolution. Nederland N.V.: Time-Life International.

Stannard, P., Williamson, K., & Hook, P. (1999) Science World 10. Albany, Auckland N.Z.: MacMillan.

Strickberger, M.W. (1968) Genetics. New York, U.S.A.: MacMillan.