Animation gallery


GTAC Scientific Animators have created a number of animations to illustrate biological processes and educate viewers. These animations feature in GTAC programs, online courses and other resources.

Clostridium tetani and Tetanus

This animation describes the process of infection with Clostridium tetani and how the toxin it releases interrupts nervous control of our muscles, leading to tetanus. This loss of muscle control causes the convulsive muscle spasms typical of tetanus, which are so severe they can cause bone fractures and dislocations. Death often occurs due to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. With adequate immunisation, tetanus is a completely preventable disease. However in developing nations, without comprehensive vaccination programmes, tetanus remains one of the top ten causes of death. Universal vaccination, including pregnant women, is vital to preventing this terrible affliction.

Bordetella pertussis and Whooping Cough

ciliaPlusToxins (02820)This animation describes the process of infection of the airways by Bordetella Pertussis, a bacterium which causes whooping cough. It specifically details how the bacterium damages ciliated airway cells, impairing normal respiratory function, leading to the severe coughing fits characteristic of whooping cough. Vaccination is vital to protect against this highly contagious disease, not only for ourselves, but also to protect those who cannot tolerate vaccination.

This animation has been officially selected for the Raw Science Film Festival 2016. This animation won an Award of Exceptional Merit for Environmental/Health PSA and Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery categories and an Award of Excellence for SFX Animation at the Doctors Without Borders Film Festival 2017. This animation also won the Warren Sturgis Motion Media Award and a Citation of Merit in the Motion Media: Video category at BioImages 2017’

 

The dynamic cell

Dynamic-cell-thumbnailA cell is an amazing, complex hub of activity. They are the site of many processes and reactions that are required for life. This animation features biological processes such as chemical signalling, transcription, translation, the protein secretory pathway, endocytosis and exocytosis in a macrophage.

 

 

 

Chemical signalling: Antidiuretic hormone

ADH-animation-thumbnailWater is essential for our survival but we are constantly loosing it through urination, sweat and other means. This animation illustrates how dehydration stimulates the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) by cells in our brain. This results in increased water reabsorption in the kidneys and greater water retention in our bodies.

 

 

Chemical signalling: Insulin

Insulin-animation-thumbnailThis animation illustrates the action of insulin on muscle cells, how it regulates glucose uptake and contributes to glucose homeostasis.

 

Apple life cycle

Apple-animation-thumbnailThis animation illustrates the stages within the life cycle of an apple tree, beginning with seed germination and featuring the role of bees as pollinators to ensure that the tree produces apples.