"DNA — How a simple code is turned into flesh and blood"

 

From Erik Olsen's front page Science section story in today's New York Times: "If there is a Steven Spielberg of molecular animation, it is probably Drew Berry, a cell biologist who works for the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. Mr. Berry’s work is revered for artistry and accuracy within the small community of molecular animators, and has also been shown in museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In 2008, his animations formed the backdrop for a night of music and science at the Guggenheim Museum called 'Genes and Jazz.'"

"'Scientists have always done pictures to explain their ideas, but now we’re discovering the molecular world and able to express and show what it’s like down there,' Mr. Berry said. 'Our understanding is just exploding.'"

"In October, Mr. Berry was awarded a 2010 MacArthur Fellowship, which he says he will put toward developing visualizations that explore the patterns of brain activity related to human consciousness."

The caption for the YouTube video above, a fantastic journey inside our cells as mind-bending as any space opera could hope to be: "Drew Berry... is a key member of an international team that recently won an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming for the episode 'The Human Race.' In 2004, Drew's animations were also honored with a BAFTA Award."