October - November 2003

We hosted a series of events to celebrate DNA 50th Anniversary:

Public Lecture
In her talk, Dr S. de Chadarevian, lecturer on the history of science at Cambridge, focused on the role of the double helix as a cultural icon as well as scientific developments since the discovery of DNA. Dr A. M. T. Linacre, senior lecturer within the Forensic Science Unit at the University of Strathclyde, talked about the use of DNA in forensic science.

Debate DNA Discovery and Its Meaning Today was presented by the students' debate club from the Law University in Vilnius.

DNA 50 Exhibition in Vilnius and Klaipeda
During the exhibition, the visitors had an opportunity to view two films on DNA.

The one short film includes interviews from Sir John Sulston, Steve Jones, Maurice Wilkings and Kay Davies.

The other film, After the Genome, produced by the Open University, unveils flies with legs on their heads; reveals that we are made of the same stuff as a hippopotamus; and claims that within 20 years cancer will be a 'bothersome chronic disease'. The film tells about speculation on the meaning of the recently published three billion letters in our genetic code: why do we have so few genes? Are we closer to understanding what makes us human? Leading human genome expert Sir John Sulston, sceptical geneticist Steve Jones and other experts try to give some meaning to the genetic code.

Science and English workshops
Keith Kelly (Language Education Consultant; FACTWorld Co-ordinator; NILE Associate Trainer; SAW Consultant) facilitated three workshops in Klaipeda, Kaunas and Vilnius. They aimed to introduce and explore the issues of genetics through English and Science classes.

Competition for Teachers and Students
The task was to write an essay, sharing impressions on the visit to the DNA Exhibition in Vilnius or Klaipeda, or submit a 45-minute extended lesson plan on teaching genetics through English or Science.

The winners were: Ramute Balciute, teacher at Vilnius Pilaite Secondary Schoo,l for the lesson plan Practical Applications of Genetic Research, Marija Kleckovska, teacher at John Paul II Secondary School, for the lesson plan What is a Clone?, Tomas Malinauskas, student of Vilnius University, for the essay.