Scarlett Oliva

Exploratorium
Museum in San Francisco, California
4/1/23

I went on a STEM field trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California, on

March 30, 2023. I imagined that this field trip would provide an opportunity to learn
about fresh and exciting aspects of science. This museum had many beautiful exhibits,
but I chose to focus on traits of the human body. There was this exhibit that featured
features that you could choose from and learn more about. I first clicked on the freckles,
and then it asked me which of the photographs it displayed best matched the quantity of
freckles I had.When I pick on the one that best fits me, it asks, "Is it genetic?" Several
genes are claimed to be involved in having freckles, and the genes that are involved
have to do with the genes that determine your hair and skin color. The second question
is, "What other factors?" Freckles can also be caused by sun exposure, which can
impact the number of freckles you have, but freckles cannot be acquired solely from sun
exposure; they must be inherited. The second characteristic that drew my attention was
dimples. I wanted to learn more about dimples because I have them. Dimples are
caused in part by heredity; numerous genes contribute to the formation of dimples.
Additional factors that can make them more visible include aging and body fat. I then
went to eye color and selected the color brown because that is my eye color. It was
stated that DNA entirely controls eye color and that different genes have to deal with the
pigment of the eyes and how dark the eyes would be. Other than heredity, there are
rarely any other factors that influence eye color. The last characteristic I wanted to learn
more about was whether or not my ear lobes were attached. I chose the image that best
represented the shape of my ear. My earlobes are mostly attached. This is genetics;
there are numerous genes and sequences that contribute to or are associated with this
trait. Other factors could include your earlobes being stretched out as a result of heavy
earrings or an accident.
This seemed like a pretty interesting place to visit, and it was unlike any of the
other places I'd written about. I enjoyed the new environment and the enormous amount
of information I was able to absorb in one location. The traits were one of several
exhibits that I found intriguing. I read a lot of what was exhibited and learned a lot about
the many sciences. The science relating to the body and genetics piqued my curiosity
the most. There was one exhibit that let me see what it would be like to be colorblind,
and I wondered how my life would be different if I were. There were also various areas
where I could see a variety of things under the microscope. I could see bugs and what
they looked up up close, as well as how they behave to their surroundings, and I could
even see myself under the microscope. I was able to see all of the dead skin on my
body that I couldn't see with my naked eye. I'm curious how much bacteria is on my
body that I'm not aware of.
Although I am not generally drawn to sciences such as the spectrum and light, I
thought it was intriguing and cool to look at all of the places that talked about it and
showed it in a way that made others want to learn more about it. Because I liked how it
appeared, I wanted to understand more about it. I discovered LED lights and how many
electrons they emit. Various hues produce varying amounts of light. Would people be
more interested in learning about science if all science was displayed like the
exhibitions I saw? Overall, I think this was a fantastic and fun experience, and I'd like to
go there again or somewhere similar in the future because I learned so much.
Tami Port
Published October 2017
10 Human Genetic Traits of Simple Inheritance

The article outlines 10 human genetic features that have straightforward

inheritance patterns. These characteristics are governed by a single gene and might be
dominant or recessive. Earlobe attachment, tongue rolling, widow's peak, dimples,
freckles, hitchhiker's thumb, bent pinky, cleft chin, straight hairline, and mid-digital hair
are among the 10 qualities described. The article outlines each trait's inheritance
patterns and gives examples of how they are handed down from parents to children. For
example, Achoo Syndrome or Sneeze reflex, when you sneeze numerous times in a
succession; some people sneeze when they see light, which was passed down to them
from their parents and is in their genetics.
While these features are relatively straightforward to grasp, many human traits
are governed by several genes and have more complex inheritance patterns. Yet,
knowing fundamental genetic features can serve to demonstrate basic genetic concepts
and how genes are handed down through generations.