Visit the New Smithsonian Genome Exhibit

We live in an age in which science and technology dominate every facet of our lives. From genomics to informatics, science matters. And yet the general public, our political leaders, and those who make important policy decisions all too frequently lack the most basic understanding of how our world works.

However, education is about much more than the imparting of facts and knowledge. Indeed, I would argue that the first job of an educator is to inspire and excite his or her audience—whether that audience is an elementary school classroom, medical students, or the public. Once a potential student has been captivated by a subject, the rest comes naturally as they actively seek further knowledge.

It is in part this aspect of education—the need to inspire—that makes our nation’s museums vital to an informed public. Now, the venerable Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, DC, is using its formidable power to inspire in the service of genomics education. On 14 June 2013, a new exhibit opened: “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code,” cohosted by the National Human Genome Research Institute. Visitors learn about the power and beauty of genomics and explore, in a variety of interactive ways, multiple facets of the genome. They get a sense of the immense size of the genome, the analytical challenges with which we are struggling, the potential for its application in medicine, and the light it sheds on who we are at the most fundamental level.

Generations of scientists have been inspired by their visits to museums where they first glimpsed the power and beauty of science. The sheer beauty of DNA and the human genome, coupled with the mastery of the Smithsonian’s presentation, will inspire future generations about a subject important to society’s future and dear to the heart of the readers of this journal.

“Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code” will be open at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History through August 2014, after which it will travel throughout the United States. Plan to visit with your family! —James P. Evans, Editor-in-Chief

Genetics in Medicine | Mission Statement

Genetics in Medicine is a monthly journal committed to the timely publication of:

  • Original reports which enhance the knowledge and practice of medical genetics

  • Strategies and innovative approaches to the education of medical providers at all levels in the realm of genetics

As the official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the journal will:

  • Provide a forum for discussion, debate and innovation concerning the changing and expanding role of medical genetics within the broader context of medicine

  • Fulfill our responsibility to the College membership through the publication of guidelines, policy statements and other information that enhances the practice and understanding of medical genetics

Finally, as genetics becomes increasingly important in the wider medical arena, we will be an accessible and authoritative resource for the dissemination of medical genetic knowledge to providers outside of the genetics community through appropriate reviews, discussions, recommendations and guidelines.