Media Releases

The GEEE! in Genome
Posted by Children's Museum Admin (cmadmin) on Thursday, 28th May, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Media Releases >>

Kitchener, ON, May 28, 2009 - As The Children's Museum loads out the highly successful Andy Warhol's Factory 2009, they are getting ready to launch the opening of their much anticipated summer exhibition, The GEEE! in Genome.

Produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature and Genome Canada and presented regionally in partnership with the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI), The GEEE! in Genome will be on display at The Museum beginning this weekend and through the summer until Labour Day. The exhibition is science based and features interactive components that will teach children, students and families of all ages about the genetic makeup of living things, including how cells work, the nature of DNA, genes and genomes, and how genomics is used in health care, criminology and food production.

The exhibit has 2,500 square feet of highly interactive, bilingual educational content and includes information on the life-changing contributions Canadian scientists have made to the field. The exhibition aims to demystify genomics, challenge misconceptions and encourage questions. It invites visitors to ponder ethical issues surrounding genetic testing, gene therapy, human cloning, genetically modified organisms, DNA databanks, access to genetic information, and more.

"The Museum is thrilled to have been chosen by The Canadian Museum of Nature and its partners to host this exhibit," says David Marskell, The Museum's Chief Executive Officer. "It's a wonderful exhibition rich with information that will serve to educate and entertain our family audiences this summer."

"This exhibit provides an excellent opportunity to engage and educate young minds in understanding about genomics, its applications and the significant contribution research makes to human, environmental and animal health," said Dr. Christian Burks, President and CEO of OGI. "We are particularly excited to be partnering with The Children's Museum, not only to stimulate interest in genomics from an early age and thus help foster tomorrow's leading scientists, but also to reinforce for all the museum's visitors that Canadian scientists are at the forefront internationally of this exciting and very competitive area."

The GEEE! in Genome runs at The Children's Museum until September 7, 2009.

For more information, please contact:

David Marksell, CEO, The Children's Museum

David.Marskell@TheChildrensMuseum.ca

519-749-9387 ext 231

For OGI media enquiries:

Alastair Harris-Cartwright

Corporate Communications Manager

T: +1 (416) 673-6582.

E: aharriscartwright@OntarioGenomics.ca

About OGI

The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on using world-class research to create strategic genomics resources and accelerate Ontario's development of a globally-competitive life sciences sector. Through its relationship with Genome Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, and other private and public sector partners, OGI works to: identify, attract and support investment in Ontario-led genomics research; catalyze access to and the impact of genomics resources; and raise the visibility of genomics as well as its impact and associated issues.

For more information on OGI, please visit www.OntarioGenomics.ca