The University of Nebraska State Museum's next "Sunday with a Scientist" program for children and families will explore plant gene silencing. The program will be 1:30-4:30 p.m., Dec. 15 at Morrill Hall, south of 14th and Vine streets on UNL's City Campus.
Bin Yu, assistant professor in the UNL School of Biological Sciences, will introduce children and families to gene silencing triggered by RNAs and related technologies used to improve crop traits and fight against human disease. Gene silencing refers to mechanisms by which organisms turn off the expression of certain genes. An important gene silencing mechanism is RNA silencing, which regulates important biological processes such as development, metabolism and adaptation to environmental stress. Visitors will compare normal plants to those that are defective in gene silencing as well as observe plants with traits altered by gene silencing technologies.
"Sunday with a Scientist" is a series of presentations that highlight the work of scientists, while educating children and families on a variety of topics related to science and natural history. Presenters share scientific information in a fun, informal way through demonstrations, activities or by conducting science on site. "Sunday with a Scientist" is 1:30-4:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month.
For more information, including upcoming topics, go to http://www.museum.unl.edu.
— Mandy Haase, NU State Museum
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/mxaq