‘Unlocking Life’s Code’ Returns to D.C. After Tour
After a 7-year tour across North America, the widely popular Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code exhibition has returned to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). A collaboration between NMNH and the National Human Genome Research Institute, the high-tech, interactive exhibition allows visitors to explore the complexities of the human genome and the history of genomics research.
“The field of genomics is incredibly exciting and the exhibition was designed to convey the breadth and depth of the science to visitors in a fun and interactive way,” said Dr. Lawrence Brody, director of the NHGRI Division of Genomics and Society, who worked with the Smithsonian to help develop the exhibition.
The installation first opened at NMNH in 2013 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA and the 10th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project. Roughly 3 million visitors viewed the exhibition at the Smithsonian during its original stay. The presentation then left NMNH in September 2014 to go on tour, visiting history museums and science centers throughout North America for several years.
Now, it’s making a grand return to NMNH, where museum visitors will once again be able to explore the history, science and impact of genomics.
Unlocking Life’s Code incorporates video, 3-D models and interactive quizzes to create a high-tech, immersive experience for its visitors. It was originally designed with the dynamic nature of genomics in mind, using modular panels that can be updated to add new information as the field advances. Updates to the returning exhibition include sections on CRISPR genome editing and the use of data science in genomics.
The exhibition opened at NMNH on Oct. 21 and is scheduled to remain open until summer 2022.