Exploring the human genome and the role genomics plays in modern life is the focus of an upcoming exhibit at McWane Science Center. The exhibit, Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code, was created by the National Institutes of Health and the Smithsonian Institution and is sponsored by UAB Medicine.
The exhibition focuses on several areas of genomic science, including the use of genomics today, the diversity of living things and how their genomes differ and have similarities, how genomics has helped increase knowledge of human origins and has helped answer questions about recent ancestry, and how genomic medicine is currently being used to assess disease risk and diagnose rare diseases.
“As the state’s leader in genomic medicine, UAB is thrilled to sponsor this exhibit and share it with the city of Birmingham and state of Alabama,” said Bruce R. Korf, M.D., Ph.D., chief genomics officer at UAB and co-director of the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative. “We hope this exhibit will help visitors understand the role genomic science plays in health and disease and motivate the young people of Alabama to consider genomic medicine as a potential career path.”
“Genomic research is a vital tool for exploring the mysteries of the natural world,” said Kirk Johnson, the Sant Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code will help visitors understand how genomics is transforming what we know about ourselves and how we make important life decisions.”
The exhibit opens Saturday, Jan. 19, at McWane Science Center and is open to the public.