Moxie Cinema Springfield, MO
Dr. Paul Durham
Director of Cell Biology and the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences, Missouri State University
Gattaca— Battling Disease Through Gene Editing
Program Description
A discussion about editing our genes to battle disease.
Presented At
Moxie Cinema Springfield, MO
Film Synopsis
In a dystopian future that prizes ideal DNA above all, a genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
In the not-too-distant future, a less-than-perfect man wants to travel to outer space. Society has categorized Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) as a genetically inferior "in-valid," and he has become one of the underclass of humans that are only useful for menial jobs. He decides to fight his fate by purchasing the genes of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a perfect genetic specimen. He assumes Jerome's identity and joins the Gattaca space program, where he falls in love with Irene (Uma Thurman). Just when Vincent is finally scheduled for a space mission, a Gattaca officer (Gore Vidal) is killed and the police begin an investigation, jeopardizing his secret.
About the Speaker
Dr. Paul Durham conducts research at the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences, a multidisciplinary laboratory that utilizes cellular/molecular, microbiological, biochemical, and chemical techniques. A primary goal of his research is to determine the signaling pathways by which inflammatory and anti-inflammatory agents control neuropeptide gene expression in disorders involving the trigeminal nerve. Dr. Durham maintains membership in the Society for Neuroscience, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Headache Society, the American Pain Society, and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. In addition, he has served on numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sections and advisory boards, and is currently a reviewer for 15 different journals.