Canadian Destinations

Discover life at the Ontario Science Centre

Every day in the news there are stories about scientific breakthroughs in the life sciences and the ensuing debates about ethical issues such as stem-cell research, DNA fingerprinting or cloning, but understanding these complex scientific topics is challenging for many. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto will help make sense of it all with Discover Life, two complementary exhibitions that are at the centre until January 9, 2005.

For Discover Life, the Ontario Science Centre has brought together The Geee! in Genome, an exhibition touring across Canada that examines genomics, the study of genes and their functions, and Traits of Life, a travelling exhibition that explores some of the fundamental principles common to all living things.

Visitors can also explore the surprising diversity and abundance of life discovered near hydrothermal vents 12,000 feet (3.6 kilometres) below the ocean surface in the new IMAX film Volcanoes of the Deep Sea showing at the centre’s Shoppers Drug Mart OMNIMAX Theatre.
By combining the two exhibitions and the film, visitors can explore both the microscopic and the macroscopic realm of life sciences, allowing them to ponder the most fundamental of questions — “What is life?”, and consider those which are more involved — “Should we manipulate living organisms for our own purposes?”

“Our knowledge about the fundamentals of life has grown dramatically in recent years, yet there are now even more questions to answer,” said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. “These exhibitions, along with our new film, will inform and challenge visitors about current and controversial issues and encourage them to consider answers to these questions.”

The Geee! in Genome

The Geee! in Genome, from the Canadian Museum of Nature, examines the basics of genes and genomics, highlighting recent scientific discoveries, their applications and the impact of genomic research on society.

The 150 square-metre bilingual exhibition consists of four highly interactive sections that are woven together by a musical analogy which demonstrates that from a few notes, nature has
created the many symphonies of life.

In the first introductory section visitors are bombarded with images and specimens that demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of life. The second explores the basics of genomics, highlighting DNA and cell structure.

The third area shows how the science of genomics is changing lives with applications in health, medicine, agriculture, diet and law enforcement, while also raising ethical issues. Finally, the visitor will be able to “meet” the stars of the science of genomics, paying particular tribute to the late Nobel Prize-winning Canadian chemist Dr. Michael Smith.

Visitors can learn about the four letters in a DNA strand that form the basis of all life; compare the astonishing genetic similarities between humans and other species; build a DNA model; consider issues such as made-to-order children, immortal pets and lifespans of 150 years; be a DNA detective; analyze genetic traits in their own families, and much more. There will also be the opportunity to learn different viewpoints of controversial issues such as genetic testing, human cloning, genetically-modified food, DNA databanks and access to genetic information.
The Geee! in Genome is produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature and presented by Genome Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Traits of Life

Traits of Life, from the Exploratorium in San Francisco, features 24 exhibits showcasing a variety of organisms — living, virtual and dead — that allow visitors to explore different aspects of life and discover some of the fundamental principles common to all living things.

This multimedia exhibition includes three sections that each focus on a different characteristic of life DNA sequence, are featured in a section with live worms that glow because of genes transplanted from a jellyfish, mutated fruit flies and genetically-altered goldfish.

Living Together highlights how all life on Earth interacts with one another in some dramatic ways. It includes a colourful display of photosynthetic bacteria colonies, a host of hungry critters feeding on decomposing animals, and wood-eating termites.

Traits of Life is funded by a major grant from the National Science Foundation, with additional funding from The Genentech Foundation for Biomedical Science and The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

Upcoming exhibitions at the Ontario Science Centre include Hot Zone, part of the Weston Family Innovation Centre, opening in December 2004 and Scream Machines, a touring exhibition opening February 2005.

For more information refer to www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca.