An exciting scientific expedition awaits investigators of all ages! Genomics
eXplorer examines Earth's most crucial living creatures - plants - and invites
visitors to investigate the important contributions genomics researchers are
making to agriculture, human health, and the environment. Cyto, the exhibit's
animated guide, enlists his visitors' help to put together the genomics puzzle.
Visitors journey with Cyto to the heart of a walk-through cell and discover
interactive games, groundbreaking research, and learning opportunities. David
E. Salt, Purdue Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Professor
and Purdue Bindley Bioscience Center Scientific Director for Genomics, served
as the content specialist. Genomics eXplorer was made possible by grants
from the National Science Foundation and the American Society of Plant Biologists.
The exhibition's learning objectives are:
- Plants are made of cells - containing a nucleus where DNA is stored - with
common and distinct features when compared with cells from other living beings.
DNA carries genetic information.
- Plant genomics is the study of genetic information and the biological processes
this information generates. Learning how a plant works leads to such applications
as enriching them for better nutritional value or utilizing them with ecological
challenges.
- By studying plant genomics health, agriculture and the environment will
benefit.