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Contagious Holiday Spirit

16/11/2014 8 Comments

Our 3D printed virus ornaments are ready! We are selling these ornaments to raise money for science outreach.

New for 2020: Coronavirus ornaments

We have:

Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus
Adeno-Associated Virus

Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus
Adeno-Associated Virus

Last week, I shared our first few prints on Twitter and they were well received. We had plans to add glitter, but I learned that I should be nowhere near a spray can – and that the viruses look better in their classic original print.

How did these happen?

A wonderful woman I work with, Jenny McQueen, altered the virus files uploaded to Thingiverse by Dave (username educator). Because all proceeds are going to our science outreach program, everyone has given us permission to use their work – thank you!

Education tags

Every virus ornament is going to come with a festive bit of information.

Hepatitis B (HepB)

  • Attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease
  • Transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids
  • Kills more than 780,000 people every year
  • Vaccine-preventable

Source: WHO website – HepB (accessed November, 2014)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • More than 100 types, at least 13 are cancer-causing
  • Most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and most sexually active women and men will be infected at some point, with some people re-infected
  • HPV16 and HPV18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions
  • More than 270,000 women die from cervical cancer every year
  • Vaccines against HPV16 and HPV18 are available

Source: WHO website – HPV (accessed November, 2014)

Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)

  • Used in gene therapy trials because it can bring in extra genes as it infects cells
  • Small virus that can infect humans and other primates, but is not currently known to cause disease

Source:  Russel DW, Deyle DR (2010). “Adeno- associated virus vector integration”. Current Opinion in Molecular Therapy 11 (4): 442–447

We are also making…
  • DNA icicles
  • Cross stitch Science like Christmas ornaments for molecular biologists and others who love looking at small things.
  • And more…

If you have any craft geeks you would like to see, please let us know! We are up for most challenges.

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Filed Under: Misc, Sci Ed

Comments

  1. Eric says

    22/11/2014 at 8:50 pm

    Would love a flavivirus for my wife!

    Reply
    • genegeek says

      23/11/2014 at 10:52 am

      We’ll be starting new designs in 2015 and will put this on the list 🙂

      Reply
  2. Kristy Rodecker says

    19/08/2020 at 7:48 am

    Need some coronavirus ornaments for 2020

    Reply
    • genegeek says

      22/08/2020 at 8:27 am

      I’ve been thinking about that – but wondering if they should also say 2020 or something else.

      Reply
    • genegeek says

      02/01/2021 at 9:47 am

      I am so sorry – forgot to leave a note re: these ornaments. We made some! You can find them on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/887060032/3d-printed-coronavirus-2020-virus

      Reply
  3. Liz says

    01/01/2021 at 2:36 pm

    I also would like a SARS-CoV-2 ornament. Definitely a memorable year…

    Reply
  4. genegeek says

    02/01/2021 at 9:47 am

    We made some! You can find them on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/887060032/3d-printed-coronavirus-2020-virus

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. URLs of wisdom (23rd November) | Social in silico says:
    23/11/2014 at 7:57 am

    […] 3D printed viruses for your Christmas tree – with money going to science outreach projects. […]

    Reply

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About Me

genegeek150logoHello. I'm Catherine and I'm using this space to try something outside of academic writing. I enjoy molecular genetics, science education, crafts, and travel. I hope you enjoy my projects and writing. Read More…

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