Starting with one basic shape found in nature, the square, a Lutheran also an architect Jim Swann has developed Jenetic Jigsaw, an educational toy that allows one to create dozens of different three dimensional shapes. Some of them move and morph into other shapes by rotating on many inges simultaneously. They illustrate the beauty found in the symmetry of nature in ways you can hold in your hand and view from all angles, But the real fun is building the squares. illustrated and creating your own. Explorations Academy in Bellingham, Washington, has used this Jenetic Jigsaw models. The school's director said the models help the students develop spatial reasoning in their study of Geometry. My 7 and 9 years old sons who like to draw 3D pictures, can spend hours on those squrae puzzles to build their own creations and draw the 3D shapes they create. The name Jenetic Jigsaw refers to the four chemical compounds that comprise the genetic code and interrelate in an infinite number of ways. The boxed kit includes 36 hinged plastic squares, 22 plastic straws and an instruction booklet. Each side of the squares has one of four different shapes: two arrangements of negative prongs and two arrangements of positive prongs. Either negative side can be hinged to either positive side of another square. Once those are hinged together, another negative and another positive can be added, creating a four-page book. The shapes that can be created seem unlimited. Because the hinges allow movement, some shapes can be transformed into new ones once built. Melissa Yao