National Human Genome Research Institute

Genome: Unlocking Life's Code

The Genome Unlocking Life's Code Exhibition

On June 14, 2013, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. opened the high-tech, high-intensity exhibition Genome: Unlocking Life's Code to celebrate the 10th anniversary of researchers producing the first complete human genome sequence - the genetic blueprint of the human body - in April 2003. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health.

Ongoing Programs

• Exhibition Website: Genome: Unlocking Life's Code [unlockinglifescode.org]
• Traveling Exhibit [unlockinglifescode.org]
• Past Public Education Programs and Events

Information to Enhance Your Visit

The Genomics Landscape a Decade After the Human Genome Project
Information and events about the 10th anniversary of the the Human Genome Project completion.

Genome: Unlocking Life's Code - Videos and Animations

• Genome: Unlocking Life's Code (2 videos)
   
• History Channel ® Videos (4 Videos)
   
• Medical Mystery Videos (3 Videos)
   
• Parts of the Cell, Chromosomes and Genes (23 animations)
   
• What's a Gene?
  Listen to some well-known scientists respond to the question, "What's a gene?"
   
• The African Diaspora: Integrating Culture, Genomics and History
  Videos from the September 12, 2013 symposium at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Information About The Smithsonian NHGRI Exhibition

• Event Press Release: Henry Louis Gates Jr., Host of PBS Series Finding Your Roots, To Appear at Smithsonian Event
  • Smithsonian Genome Exhibit Unlocks 21st Century Science of Life [From the Voice of America]
  • UNC Professor Helps Design New Smithsonian Exhibition [From the University of North Carolina]
  • See NHGRI's Smithsonian Exhibition Media Briefing
     
• Media Availability: NHGRI, Smithsonian and NIH Foundation present conversations on genomics, health (September 30, 2014)
• Press Release: Genome exhibition to depart Smithsonian for multi-city tour (August 26, 2014)
• Press Release: New Exhibition Makes Genome Accessible to the Public (June 13, 2013)
   
• National Museum of Natural History Website: Genome: Unlocking Life's Code
• From Smithsonian.com: The Work Is Only Beginning on Understanding the Human Genome
  An interview with NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D. from The Smithsonian.

Past Planning Information

• NHGRI announces collaboration with Smithsonian on genome exhibition
• Press Release: NHGRI collaborates with Smithsonian to produce new genome exhibit (May 21, 2012)
• NHGRI Director's Comments: NHGRI and the Smithsonian Institution: a new partnership
• Additional information: Initial Exhibition Announcement

About the Exhibition's Funding

Funds for the Smithsonian-NHGRI exhibition and related initiatives were raised privately by both the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.

Already, Life Technologies Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Life Technologies Corp. of Carlsbad, Calif., has pledged $3 million to fund the production of the exhibition itself. Additionally, more than $500,000 has been raised through the Foundation for The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and from the Brin Wojcicki Foundation of Palo Alto, Calif.; the Celgene Corporation of Summit, N.J.; Pacific Biosciences of Menlo Park, Calif., Pac Bio president and chief executive officer Mike Hunkapiller, Ph.D., and his wife Beth; the New England Biolabs of Ipswich, Mass.; and from Genentech, Inc. of South San Francisco, Calif.

• Foundation for NIH Support: Human Genome Exhibition
• Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History Support: Support curiosity, discovery and learning

The Smithsonian NHGRI Exhibition Advisory Board

Learn about the people who helped to create the new exhibition: NMNH/NHGRI Advisory Board

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Last Updated: May 2, 2016