So, just what is it that makes today DNA day? I'm glad you asked. April 25 marks the anniversary of the initial publication by Watson and Crick announcing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. Here is their picture as well as a picture of their publication in Nature.
Now, let's fast forward 50 years to April 25, 2003, when the announcement regarding the completion of the Human Genome Project was made.
DNA day is celebrated on April 25. The National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health organizes DNA day events to help students, teachers, and the public learn more about genetics and genomics.
My first exposure to genetics and DNA was in my 10th grade biology class at Box Elder High School. I found myself rather fascinated with principles of Mendelian genetics and completing my punnet square exercises. Who could have known at the time that this initial exposure would ultimately lead to my participation in the NINR-sponsored Summer Genetics Institute during the summer of 2005 and teaching a graduate level clinical genetics course?
So, just what does all of this have to do with a quilt? Good question, and let's get back to the story. Fast forward to the spring of 2012. I purchased a copy of Quiltmaker magazine that featured a quilt pattern titled, "Chain Reaction." When I looked at the chain pattern, however, I saw DNA double helices rather than chains. I purchased some DNA-themed fabric from spoonflower.com (by the way, they have even more pretty terrific DNA and science-themed prints now), and began my work on this quilt. I decided to go for a scrappy look, and hunted down some additional prints that complemented chromosomes and DNA strands. Here's a look at the steps involved in making each individual block. Although the block construction wasn't that difficult, making over 60 of these blocks did get a bit tedious. I did find myself very grateful for the 60 degree cutting line on my cutting mat.
I started by cutting a 60 degree angle through my background block of fabric. Then I inserted a strip of one of my prints. For this block, I selected a print that included what I thought looked like a bunch of cells.
My first exposure to genetics and DNA was in my 10th grade biology class at Box Elder High School. I found myself rather fascinated with principles of Mendelian genetics and completing my punnet square exercises. Who could have known at the time that this initial exposure would ultimately lead to my participation in the NINR-sponsored Summer Genetics Institute during the summer of 2005 and teaching a graduate level clinical genetics course?
So, just what does all of this have to do with a quilt? Good question, and let's get back to the story. Fast forward to the spring of 2012. I purchased a copy of Quiltmaker magazine that featured a quilt pattern titled, "Chain Reaction." When I looked at the chain pattern, however, I saw DNA double helices rather than chains. I purchased some DNA-themed fabric from spoonflower.com (by the way, they have even more pretty terrific DNA and science-themed prints now), and began my work on this quilt. I decided to go for a scrappy look, and hunted down some additional prints that complemented chromosomes and DNA strands. Here's a look at the steps involved in making each individual block. Although the block construction wasn't that difficult, making over 60 of these blocks did get a bit tedious. I did find myself very grateful for the 60 degree cutting line on my cutting mat.
I started by cutting a 60 degree angle through my background block of fabric. Then I inserted a strip of one of my prints. For this block, I selected a print that included what I thought looked like a bunch of cells.
The next step was to remove a portion of the block - more 60 degree angle cuts and insert another strip of fabric. This time I chose a print that featured chromosomes and their bands.
Part of the challenge with this quilt was to make sure that I was incorporating enough variety into the quilt. This included making sure that I was using different combinations of prints in the individual blocks and then arranging the blocks in such a way that I had plenty of variety in the quilt. This meant having adequate space to position and reposition the blocks. This stage of the process pretty much consumed my entire design wall and forced me to bring this project to completion.
Here are a few close ups of some of the blocks and science-themed prints included in the quilt. The DNA double helix print was my favorite. Here it is paired with a yellow and green leafy print as well as a print with dots on a black background. I think that the dots resemble the pattern of a microarray - a means for evaluating gene expression in a given tissue sample.
Here we have some chromosomes as well as a print that features paramecia.
A science-themed quilt wouldn't be complete without a prints that included insects and frogs. To me, the blue fabric on the right featured centrifuge rotors. The yellow fabric on the right featured linear thread-like nuclear DNA. Remember, I did warn you that this post would provide evidence of how much of a nerd I am.
On this DNA Day, I enjoy contemplating what a privilege it is to be living in an era where we are able to discover so much of the inner workings of our cells and how four bases, adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, arrange themselves in such a way as to comprise our genomes. It's amazing to think of the complexities of the processes that regulate DNA replication, RNA transcription, and its subsequent translation into functional protein products. It's also humbling to realize how even one small error, the substitution of one base for another, can result in significant disease. I'm also awed to think that the One who knows the number of hairs on my head and knows each star by name also knows every base sequence of my DNA. As Paul reminded the church at Colossae many years before anyone had an inkling of the DNA molecule,
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17
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