“Dark Zone” notecards (box set)

The “Dark Zone” notecards are unique all-occasion cards for any science celebration. Each card has a different illustration, and the “zone” it depicts is explained on the back. Scroll down this page for a short description of the structural variations in the dark zones of our genomes.

Size: The notecards measure 4.25 x 5.5 inches and are blank on the inside.

What’s included: One package contains six notecards and matching white envelopes in a clear acrylic box.

Shipping is free within the continental United States.

Exploring the dark zones.

Nothing shadowy is going on in the dark zones of our genomes. The regions are considered “dark” because long chunks of genetic sequence and repetitive elements are challenging to map. The areas hide structural variations such as insertions, deletions, and copy number variants. Deciphering these regions is essential for improving the health of people alive today and understanding the role of genetic variation in human evolution.

The illustrations on the cards are from one large pastel painting that was manipulated in a series of iterations to mimic the indels and CNVs. Some parts were selected and deleted; others were inverted or cut and recombined in a new way. Like the dark regions of our genome, about 10% of the original image is hidden.