Gene-ious exhibition and movie nights in the TV Tower

PRESS RELEASE

Tallinn TV Tower

From 29 March, you are welcome to visit Tallinn TV Tower’s new Gene-ious collaborative exhibition in cooperation with the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics, which explains in simple terms what a cell is, what it looks like on the inside and what the roles of the 23 pairs of chromosomes are. You can also see how many matching mates you can find in Estonia and design your ideal baby!

The focus of the exhibition is on gene technology, a field in which Estonia holds a leading position worldwide. The data collected from 157,000 gene donors (i.e., 15% of Estonia’s adult population) by the end of last year is helping us predict health risks more accurately and use the accumulated information in personalised medicine.

Tallinn TV Tower was reopened to the public as an activity centre in April 2012. Since that time, the panorama level of the tower has included a display of Estonia’s great achievements, including a stand on genome research. In the words of Jüri Kriisemann, director of the TV Tower: “This new display highlights one of our major achievements and references to genomics can be found all over the TV Tower. Initially, the plan is to keep the exhibition open for two seasons.”

There is a separate display on the biological and cultural changes in the predecessors of humans and on the impact of one’s genes and lifestyle on the development of a person. Visitors can see how different traits are passed on to successors or how risk factors affect the possibility of getting type 2 diabetes. They can take various tests, such as a saliva test or a colour blindness test, find a perfect companion through a dating app or even design themselves a baby! The “Matchmaking” game uses certain parameters to determine how many potential matches you could find from Estonia currently.

The field of genomics started to develop in Estonia in 1999, when Prof Andres Metspalu and Dr Jaanus Pikani, the latter the then chairman of the board of Tartu University Clinic, presented Prime Minister Mart Laar and President Lennart Meri with the idea of creating a population-based biobank and using the genetic data in the biobank for the good of public health. The Government of the Republic allocated a million kroons for the innovative idea and in 2000, the parliament adopted the Human Genes Research Act. The collection of data from gene donors began in 2002.

On Saturday, 30 March between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Estonian Genome Project offers a chance to become a gene donor in the TV Tower.

Additionally, the TV Tower invites everyone on 18 April and 16 May to their auditorium for TVPlay Premium movie and discussion nights. Entry to the movie nights is FREE OF CHARGE.

The programme includes two documentaries from the series The First Peoples, which talk about the early migrations of our forefathers. The films examine new archaeological findings and most recent genetic research. After the film, the issues raised are debated by population geneticist Monika Karmin from the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics and Carlo Cubero, Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Tallinn University School of Humanities. The TV Tower restaurant offers delicious snacks in the auditorium all evening.

Introductory clips and additional information can be found on TVPlay Premium homepage.

Information on the exhibition can be found HERE.

Additional information:

Jüri Kriisemann

Director, Tallinn TV Tower

Tel. +372 506 8088

E-mail: jyri.kriisemann@teletorn.ee