My Biopunk partner hasn’t written about these ones yet, but on Sunday, I ended up watching a series of movies on TV with DNA in the plot. First up, the B-movie Sumuru. I channel surfed into this one and would have gone right out except the discussion of DNA caught my attention. What I gathered was that these two guys from earth pick a planet full of women to help the human DNA line survive. I think they were suggesting some kind of founder effect into the future. I wondered if in fact they were not suggesting more a Genghis Khan effect. I never found out as before the movie was resolved my doorbell rang and by the time I got back to my TV, Star Trek: Insurrection was on. What!!! Now we have regenerative radiation having a positive effect on the DNA to prevent ageing. Wow!!!

DNA will also be the major plot of the story I tell at the ATA Science Council conference on November 15. Lucky for me, I was able to spend some time with Genome Alberta’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Gijs van Rooijen in October. He was able to fill me in on the latest developments coming out of Alberta in the field of Genomics. I am excited to bring these new developments to Alberta science teachers. The presentation will be made available for downloading as well. Genome Alberta is pleased to continue providing on-going professional development for teachers in the rapidly growing field of Genomics. I hope to see you there.

Note added November 20, 2008


We have prepared a Genomics Primer which reviews the basics from Mendel to Metagenomics and it is now available in our download section.