⌘ K
"The Evolution of STEM earns its Recommended BrickScore of 72.8 as a visually rich, mechanically interesting display set with genuine educational appeal, and owners rate it 4.51 out of 5; the DNA chirality debate and a size smaller than some expected are the main caveats at $79.99."
The Evolution of STEM (21355) earned a Recommended BrickScore of 72.8 with moderate expert agreement, reflecting a set that owners and buyers largely love but that generated some substantive debate around accuracy and value. Owner ratings are strong at 4.51 out of 5 across 104 reviews, with a 4.44 value-for-money signal, though only 48% would recommend it on LEGO.com, a figure that seems tied to specific criticisms around the DNA helix chirality controversy and a size that some found smaller than expected. At $79.99 for 879 pieces ($0.091 per piece), the price-per-piece is competitive, and the set's combination of educational content, moving mechanisms, and display-oriented micro-builds attracted consistent praise.
Where they split: The DNA chirality debate is the main point of divergence. Some owners with molecular biology backgrounds criticized the left-handed helix as an error; others cited Z-DNA as a valid naturally occurring form and defended the design. LEGO has not publicly addressed the distinction, leaving the debate unresolved among buyers.
Is this a smart buy? BrickPicker's data-grounded investment verdict.
Unlock the Max Profit Opinion: our stance (buy / accumulate / hold / pass), the reasoning, the exact data behind it (eBay + BrickLink comps, CAGR vs MSRP, our retirement model), and whether the reviewer community agrees.
Unlock with Collector or Reseller
"I totally love it! This set checks almost all the boxes for me."
Rebrickable Reviews
"It's a really enjoyable set, filled with educational knowledge and history and the big drawcard will be the 3 minifigures included – Marie Skłodowska-Curie, George Washington Carver and Sir Isaac Newton, three pioneers a…"
Jay's Brick Blog
"I find it intriguing that it's really Bradley's concept that won the Ideas contest to make this a model, rather than his actual build."
The Brothers Brick
"For me personally, this is a weird product."
Tiago Catarino"I totally love it! This set checks almost all the boxes for me."
"It's a really enjoyable set, filled with educational knowledge and history and the big drawcard will be the 3 minifigures included – Marie Skłodowska-Curie, George Washington Carver and Sir Isaac Newton, three pioneers and icons of Science."
"I find it intriguing that it's really Bradley's concept that won the Ideas contest to make this a model, rather than his actual build."
"For me personally, this is a weird product."
STEM-inclined owners find this set a uniquely educational and detail-packed display piece, though a subset of scientists take issue with the left-handed DNA helix, and a few note structural fragility during the build.
Walmart4.5LEGO.com4.6Amazon4.2
