22 March 2012
Body Code
Our bodies are made up of millions upon millions of living cells each housing a mass of molecules. This biological machinery is responsible for turning the genetic information encoded within our DNA into flesh, blood, bone and brain – microscopic, hidden processes made visible by this detailed animation. The video captures the bustling business of life from the seething surface of a stem cell to the careful copying and coiling of DNA within a cell as it divides. It also reveals how a gene is 'read' to produce haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen around the body, showing how a tiny change in this protein can lead to sickle cell anaemia.
Written by
- Drew Berry
- Video Courtesy of Drew Berry
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
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What is BPoD?
BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.