Images Dated 20th November 2003

Coloured X-ray of the healthy hand of a man

Man's hand. Coloured X-ray of the healthy hand of a man, showing the arrangement of its bones. An outline of the flesh of the hand is seen. Bones of the hand consist of eight small carpals in the wrist (lower centre), which articulate with the two long forearm bones (at bottom). Five metacarpal bones (at centre) make up the palm of the hand. Each finger has three phalanges, except the thumb which has two such bones. This skeleton enables the human hand to be used with great flexibility, helped especially by the joint between the wrist and the opposable thumb. This well-adapted hand allowed our ancestors to use tools, facilitating human evolution

© MEHAU KULYK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Egypt. Satellite pyramids of the Great Pyramid of Khufu or C

Egypt. Satellite pyramids of the Great Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops, known as The Pyramids of Queens. From right to left: pyramid G 1-a, attributed to Hetepheres I (mother of Cheops) pyramid G 1-b attributed to Meritites I, and the Pyramid G1-c attributed to Henutsen (mother of Khafre and Khufu's third wife) . 4th dynasty. 26th century B.C. Old Kingdom. Giza

© Thaliastock / Mary Evans

GM maize

Genetically-modified maize. Petri dish containing sprouting genetically-modified (GM) maize kernels (Zea mays). Maize, commonly known as corn, is grown for food in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Genetic modification of plants involves altering their DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), the chemical which controls every part of an organism's growth and development. This modification may give the plant desirable characteristics, such as resistance to disease and herbicides. In this case the maize plant has been modified to improve its resistance to glyphosinate-type weedkillers. It is controversial whether GM foods are safe to eat

© CHRIS KNAPTON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY