“GENOME: The Secret of How Life Works”

What do you get when you cross a human, a fly and a banana? Matching genes

Comments (0) By Dusti Rhodes Thursday, Feb 7 2008

What do you get when you cross a human and a banana? A 50 percent match in the gene pool. According to the press release for “GENOME: The Secret of How Life Works,” half of our DNA is similar to that of the favorite food of monkeys. The Museum of Health and Medical Science’s latest exhibit employs interactive stations to explore the mapping of the human GENOME and the use of genetic research for everything from solving crimes to mapping heritage to growing food.

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Step up to the Hereditary Slot Machine and find out the odds your children will inherit your eye, skin or hair color, height and more. At How Similar Are You?, discover which other inanimate and animate objects, besides a banana, share your DNA. The Cookie Factory explains your microscopic makeup in terms of baking cookies, and you can be the Gumshoe at DNA Detective and solve a crime by matching DNA samples to the culprit. Other stations include a Giant Double Helix, a Cell Explorer and Discovery Theater.

“GENOME: The Secret of How Life Works” runs noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, through May 4. Museum of Health and Medical Science, 1515 Hermann Drive. For information, call 713-521-1515 or visit www.thehealthmuseum.org. $5 to $6 (free on Thursdays).
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Feb. 5. Continues through May 4, 2008