All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
4 05, 2015

“How to Clone a Mammoth” – Key Stage 3/4

By | May 4th, 2015|Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on “How to Clone a Mammoth” – Key Stage 3/4

Helpful Book on Genetic Engineering for Teachers

With the changes being rolled out in the new curriculum for England, many teachers have contacted Everything Dinosaur for help and advice when it comes to teaching students about natural selection, the work of Darwin,  and genetics.  Cell biology, inheritance and an understanding of genetics are key components of both Key Stage 3 and 4 in the science component of the new curriculum.  A new book written by Associate Professor Beth Shapiro (University of California, Santa Cruz), helps to set out the current state of play in terms of genetic engineering to bring back characteristics of long dead animals including the Woolly Mammoth.

Clone a Mammoth

“How to Clone a Mammoth” by Beth Shapiro

The science behind de-extinction.

The science of de-extinction by Beth Shapiro.

Picture credit: Princeton Press

The book explains how organisms have been manipulated for hundreds of years via selective breeding.  This ties in with important elements of the biology component of both Key Stage 3 and 4.  Beth Shapiro, avoids the overuse of technical language and sets out in easy to understand terms the pros and cons associated with the manipulation of genetic material.  The author uses plenty of examples to illustrate her arguments.  “How to Clone a Mammoth” takes a thorough and balanced approach to this subject area and examines the science behind genome sequencing and the potential consequences for “de-extinction”.

Helpful Reading for Key Stage 3/4

Commenting on the book, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“At a little over 200 pages, this is essential reading for science teachers and technicians.  It tackles how the genome of any genetically modified organism would interact with the environment and outlines in simple terms the role that genetic engineering could have in the conservation of endangered ecosystems.”

To read a more comprehensive review of “How to Clone a Mammoth”: How to Clone a Mammoth – Book Review.

Importantly, as well as addressing the science behind the concept of the “de-extinction ” of a species, the author addresses the wider implications too.  The book educates the reader and provides valuable guidance to teachers who can use the points made to encourage a broader understanding of, not only the science, but of the ethical, social and moral consequences of this research.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a range of scale prehistoric animal models including Woolly Mammoth figures: Prehistoric Mammal Models.

Highly recommended!

For further information on “How to Clone a Mammoth” and to purchase this book: Princeton Press.

4 05, 2015

Win with Everything Dinosaur – Competition Closes at 10pm on 7th May

By | May 4th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Vote for Your Favourite Soft Toy Dinosaur to Win?

Now there are less than five days to go until the UK general election and just five days left to enter Everything Dinosaur’s free to enter competition.  Choose your favourite soft toy dinosaur for Prime Minister #votedinosaur!  When the polls close on Thursday night, we will close our competition and then one lucky winner will be sent their very own dinosaur soft toy.  The winner of Everything Dinosaur’s “dinosaur election”

Everything Dinosaur

We have seven candidates, having tried to represent the leaders of the seven main political parties with a dinosaur soft toy.  Each soft toy dinosaur being in the colours of the respective political party.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Vote Dinosaur! Which Political Dinosaur will you Vote For?

Vote Dinosaur! #votedinosaur

Vote Dinosaur! #votedinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Candidates

In alphabetical order we have:

Ed – the red Spinosaurus, Dave – the blue Tyrannosaurus rex, Leanne – the green and red Spinosaurus hat (closest item we have that looks like a dragon), for the Party of Wales, Natalie – the green Stegosaurus, Nick – the yellow Velociraptor, Nicola – the Utahraptor and Nigel – the purple Triceratops.

The votes have been coming in thick and fast on Everything Dinosaur’s Facebook page, here is the current state of play.

The Voting So Far – State of the Dinosaur Parties

The voting is quite close.

The voting is quite close.

Table credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Bar Chart showing the State of the Dinosaur Parties

The current state of the parties.

The current state of the parties.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Vote Dinosaur for the Chance to Win a Dinosaur!

Voting is easy to do, just visit Everything Dinosaur on Facebook (see logo/link below), like our page and comment under the picture of our seven dinosaur candidates telling us which dinosaur soft toy you want to see at Number Ten.  Competition will close when the polling booths close at 10pm on May 7th and we will announce the winner the next day.   A prize draw will be held and one lucky voter will receive the winning soft toy.

So to enter Everything Dinosaur’s competition, all you have to do is “Like” Everything Dinosaur’s FACEBOOK page, then comment on the picture (either here or on Everything Dinosaur’s Facebook page)  voting for the dinosaur that you want to be the next Dinosaur Prime Minister.

Everything Dinosaur on FACEBOOK: “LIKE” Our Facebook Page and Enter Competition.

For example, if you think that the green and red Spinosaurus called Leanne is your favourite, just comment “Leanne” either here or in the comments section on Everything Dinosaur’s Facebook page.

We will draw the lucky winner at random and our #VoteDinosaur competition closes at 10pm Thursday, May 7th.  Good luck to all our competition entrants.

Don’t forget to “Like” Everything Dinosaur’s Page on Facebook!

Like our Page (please).     Like our Facebook Page!

To view Everything Dinosaur’s huge range of soft toy dinosaurs: Dinosaur Soft Toys.

Terms and Conditions of the Everything Dinosaur #VoteDinosaur Competition

Automated entries are not permitted and will be excluded from the draw.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Only one entry per person.

The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.

The Everything Dinosaur #VoteDinosaur competition runs until 10pm on May 7th 2015.

Winner will be notified by private message on Facebook.

Prize includes postage and packing.

For full terms and conditions contact: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

It’s just for a bit of fun, but we thought we would give everyone the chance to vote for a real “political dinosaur” !

#Vote Dinosaur!

For a chance to win with Everything Dinosaur Toys and Games.

We apologise for not including all the political parties/candidates that are standing on the 7th of May, remember this is only just for a bit of fun!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

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