Selections from the Woods Hole Film Festival: Hunt for the Oldest DNA

By

MIT Museum

A close-up of a man wearing frosted goggles and heavy fur-lined winter gear, his face covered in snow and ice. Reflections in the goggles depict prehistoric scenes, with silhouettes of a mammoth and other ancient creatures walking across a snowy landscape. Snowflakes fill the air, emphasizing a cold, arctic environment.

For decades, scientists have tried to unlock the secrets of ancient DNA but life's genetic blueprint is incredibly fragile.

Registration required

  • Sign-up is ongoing

Cost

$15 General Admission, $5 for MIT ID Holders

Location

  • In-person only.

MIT Museum, Gambrill Center

314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States

Neighborhood

Area 2, East Cambridge, and The Port

Dates and Times

.: Tuesday, December 3, 6PM – 8PM.

Additional information

Researchers have struggled to find DNA in fossils that could survive millions of years. Then, one maverick scientist had the controversial idea to look for DNA not in fossils or frozen ancient tissue – but in dirt. Join the hunt as scientists decipher the oldest DNA ever found and reveal for the first time the genes of long-extinct creatures that once thrived in a warm, lush Arctic.

The screening will be followed by a conversation with John Rubin, Executive Producer of the film, and Christina Warriner, Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University. 

A close-up of a man wearing frosted goggles and heavy fur-lined winter gear, his face covered in snow and ice. Reflections in the goggles depict prehistoric scenes, with silhouettes of a mammoth and other ancient creatures walking across a snowy landscape. Snowflakes fill the air, emphasizing a cold, arctic environment.

.: Tuesday, December 3, 6PM – 8PM.

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Kate Silverman Wilson

MIT Museum

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Last updated November 21, 2024.