Best symbol of modern Scotland

1 TUNNOCK'S TEACAKES

Tunnock's began producing their teacakes in the 1950s from a shop in Uddingston, and Scotland has been devouring them ever since. The family-run company began exporting to Canada in 1957 and today sells to 30 countries worldwide, including Kuwait, Japan and the Caribbean. Still family-owned and run by the founder's grandson, Tunnock's has become a Scottish institution and their teacakes genuine Scottish icons. Not a marshmallow person? Try a Tunnock's Caramel Wafer: just as popular and just as good. See Tea cake, a painting by Fiona Watson in the museum's Scotland: A Changing Nation exhibition.

2 TRAINSPOTTING

The 1996 film based on the novel by Irvine Welsh about a group of heroin addicts in 1980s Edinburgh introduced the world to Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, Tommy and Begbie. Universally praised for its stark, realistic portrayal of the drug-using youth subculture and the brazen blackness of its comedy, it's acknowledged to be a great British film. The Changing Nation exhibition includes a film poster and script given by Ewan McGregor.

3 IRN-BRU

Bright orange and "bru'd from girders", Irn-Bru has been made in Scotland since 1901, by AG Barr of Glasgow. It enjoys huge popularity, not only at home, but also abroad; amazingly, you can buy it in Gibraltar, Russia, Norway, South Africa, Singapore, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and the Middle East. At home, it's the nation's most popular soft drink, and the UK's third. Check out the Irn-Bru adverts in Russian and Arabic in the Changing Nation exhibition.

4 TARTAN

Vivienne Westwood's favourite pattern, tartan is as much a symbol of modern as traditional Scotland, representing the nation on catwalks and clothes rails all over the globe. The Changing Nation exhibition displays Diaspora Tartan 3, a length of silk with a tartan design, digitally printed from an X-ray image in an airport baggage security machine, designed by Jill Kinnear, an emigrant Scot living in Australia.

5 THE SALTIRE

Since the Scottish Parliament sat for the first time since the Union of the Parliaments in 1707 on 1 July, 1999, the Saltire has acquired new significance. Today, it is a symbol of nationalism in a real sense and a symbol of strength and independence. Presenting the cross of St Andrew on a blue background, it is distinctive and recognisable the world over, testimony in itself to the standing of Scottish culture on the world stage.