Don Stewart —
Two pea vines (courtesy of Gregor Mendel, the Austrian monk who deciphered the rules of genetic inheritance by carefully observing these plants in his garden) entwined in a double helix, share pea pods in the role of nucleotide base pairs.
The plants are identified with a jean-etic marker stuck down in the ground, with X and Y symbols, and a FISH close by (for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, a fancy way of identifying genes in the laboratory).
The order of base pair alignment (A=T, C=G) is spelled out in the CAT TAG, while birds, bees, fruit flies, and a Crick-et named Watson look on. Above, dice represent the random pattern of inheritance.
Oh, the little guy? He’s Gene, the gnome.
Don: Your drawing is exceedingly clever and creative. It is beautifully executed. You managed to sneak in so many relevant ideas. Always look forward to seeing your work.
Happy New Year.
Thank you! It’s gratifying to know that my quirky brand of humor has found an appreciative audience.
A delightful drawing which rewards close scrutiny. I hope to see more drawings in future issues.