After over 40 years of distinguished work in molecular biophysics and crystallography at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Duax has found an unlikely ally in his quest to unravel the mysteries of life: teenagers. Duax is the founder and lead mentor of HWI’s high school program, which invites students to take a hands-on role in cutting edge research examining the structure and fabric of life on earth. Currently Duax is a candidate for the $10,000 Time Warner Cable Super Connector Search, a contest for those who encourage science and technology to young people in their communities. To vote for Bill visit connectamillionminds.com.
First off, tell us a little bit about your work with the Hauptman-Woodward Institute’s program. How did you get involved with high school students?
I was studying the relationship between the structures of female hormones that stimulate breast cancer growth and the structures of drugs commonly used to combat breast cancer with funding from the National Institutes of Health. I wanted to show young people how exciting and rewarding scientific discovery can be. Over 25 years ago I began bringing groups of 20 high school students to the HWI to learn about crystallography, make molecular models and have lunch with Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman. Talking to Herb was the part they liked best. When I learned about a remarkable program started by City Honors High School and Roswell Park that allowed High School students to spend every Fridays as apprentices in research laboratories I volunteered to be a mentor. When students in other schools in the area learned about the program, I began an after school mentoring program that grew into a month-long summer school.
What are you hoping to accomplish by creating an extensive database of genetic code?
The complete genomes of over 5,000 living species account for over 20
million genes in the world’s gene banks. The proteins produced by these
genes include insulin, hemoglobin and growth hormones critical to our
health and the toxins that threaten us. Unfortunately we do not know
what 70 percent