Hurle Poster GenomicGeek - Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code...The Genome Geek Is In the geno me geek...
Transcript of Hurle Poster GenomicGeek - Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code...The Genome Geek Is In the geno me geek...
The Genome Geek Is In
the genome geek is in
SmithsonianNational Museum of Natural History
mDr. Belen Hurle National Institutes of Health (NIH) June 16th, 2013 I am a busy mother of two who likes all things genetics and anything edible. I am fascinated about comparing the genomes of different organisms to each other and to the human genome, a field known as comparative genomics. I like to think that I discovered a gene that contributes to our ‘sixth sense.’ With the help of computational tools, I have traced the evolutionary story of an intriguing family of genes implicated in the sense of balance and perception of gravity, from mouse to frog to fish and even further back in evolutionary time. It is important to study the biology of balance because balance related falls account for half of accidental deaths in persons over 65, thousands of hip fractures and billions of dollars in medical expense very year. Detection of gravity is also a topic of interest in space flight research. Come see me to learn more!