Do you have your mother's dimples or your father's red hair? How do we inherit those traits, and how are we connected to all living things? Families will learn the answers to these questions and experience how scientists have unlocked the mysteries of the human genome, at a new traveling exhibit on display at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center.
The high-tech, high-impact exhibit includes:
"We were very excited to bring this exhibit to the museum, because Utah's rich family histories and scientists at Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Utah Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Sciences are world renown for their participation in groundbreaking international human genome research," said Sarah George, executive director of the Museum. "Our accompanying local exhibit takes the traveling exhibit one step further, showing how histories of Utah's large families have contributed to the discovery of disease-causing genes, and how local research is leading to life-saving ‘precision medicine' therapies to treat those diseases."
"Utahns can take great pride in knowing that Utah is at the hub of cancer prevention research," added George. "The exhibit illustrates how a Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Utah team of scientists studied families with high rates of breast and ovarian cancer and helped discover the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Further local research led to creating tests to identify those who are at risk for developing these cancers, saving thousands of lives."
"The transformative genetics research taking place here at Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Utah Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Sciences is Utah's gift to the world," said David Perry, M.B.A., chief marketing officer and spokesperson for Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Utah Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Sciences. "We're pleased to share with the community the important role that our state's families and scientists have played in discoveries that are changing how we practice health care."
Special lectures and other activities related to the exhibit will be featured at the Natural History Museum of Utah through Sept. 5. The Museum also features 10 permanent galleries for discovery including Past Worlds, Great Salt Lake, Native Voices, Land and much more. Entrance into Genome: Unlocking Life's Code is included in the Museum's price of general admission.
For additional information, visit https://nhmu.utah.edu/genome or call 801-581-4303.
Genome: Unlocking Life's Code was developed and produced by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Institutes for Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ's National Human Genome Research Institute in association with Science North.
The exhibit was also made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Utah Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Sciences; exhibit sponsors, Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation and Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation; and community sponsors, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Kathie and Mark Miller, S.J. and the Jessie Quinney Foundation and Sorenson Legacy Foundation.
The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the Museum‘s collections contain over 1.2 million objects and offers innovative exhibitions and educational programs to thousands of residents and visitors each year, including traveling and permanent exhibits, special events and other programs. With an expected attendance of 180,000 visitors a year, the Museum also offers a variety of outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state annually. The Museum has an active science program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field exhibitions each year.