"Understanding Our Genetic Inheritance" officially opened September 30 at the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos, New Mexico. This exhibit explains the contributions of the Center for Human Genome Studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to the Human Genome Project the international effort to map all the genetic information in human cells.
The centerpiece of the museum exhibit is a 16-foot-long version of LANL's map of human chromosome 16. Center researchers continually update the laboratory version of this map, which is used worldwide by scientists to locate specific genes on the chromosome and to determine which sections are associated with various diseases.
Also at the museum is the first robot designed and built at LANL to help biologists map the human genome. It can be activated to demonstrate some of the steps it once performed in the laboratory. In addition, two interactive computer programs developed by the Exploratorium in San Francisco help visitors learn more about the world of genetic research and discover their own inherited characteristics. Another activity allows matching of DNA "fingerprints" to see how missing persons can be identified. Wall panels give background information about DNA, chromosomes, DNA fingerprinting, and specific LANL research; benefits to human health through understanding the human genome; and ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic research. |
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