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Chris Higgins
The Protein Synthesis Dance
by Chris Higgins - February 20, 2009 - 4:03 PM

Here’s a bit of Friday nerdery for you. In this gloriously retro 70’s video, a group of dancers demonstrate how protein synthesis works…via interpretive dance, complete with trippy music and Jabberwocky-inspired narration. Entitled “Protein Synthesis: An Epic on the Cellular Level,” I’m not sure if this counts as an educational film…but it’s definitely fun and weird. The introductory lecture does help to set the stage for the dance, featuring about three minutes of genuine educational material on protein synthesis, delivered by Paul Berg, Nobel Prize-winning chemist.

Keep an eye out for the Initiator Factors — they have the coolest outfits.

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Comments (9)

  1. I’ve seen that before! Someone from the NIH gave a talk a few years ago at my old university and he had that running on the screen as people came in and took their seats. Wish I could have been a part of it, but it was a little before my time.

    posted by Diana on 2-20-2009 at 4:26 pm

  2. hmmm…think at least one person mistook it for a party

    posted by Jason on 2-20-2009 at 5:14 pm

  3. My boyfriend watched this in his Freshman Biology class in college. From what I remember, this was actually made by grad students at Princeton (or some other big fancy schmancy university). Which means that there are several currently very well known scientists dancing around like goofballs in that clip.

    posted by Jenne on 2-20-2009 at 5:15 pm

  4. nerd orgy.

    posted by sarah on 2-20-2009 at 5:17 pm

  5. that. was. superb. I think that helped me understand the process better than any regular biology lesson.

    I like the screaming guy in the background: “50S RIBOSOMES!” “PEPTIDE BONDS!!”

    posted by sb22 on 2-20-2009 at 6:17 pm

  6. Ha, we watched this a week or two in my biology class. I loved it, althought it didn’t really help me understand. I think its so cool you posted it.

    posted by Kalithenowhereman on 2-20-2009 at 6:31 pm

  7. I watched this a few years ago in college. Each year there was a rumor that one of our professors was in it. I think the science is a little out-of-date, but it’s definitely entertaining.

    posted by Mary on 2-20-2009 at 7:53 pm

  8. I partook in this dance at Kenyon College just last year. It was beautiful.

    posted by Katie on 2-21-2009 at 12:38 pm

  9. This actually helped me understand the process. It’s just…well, I don’t know what, but I’m amazed and slightly chagrined at myself…

    Go nerdy scientists!

    posted by Nola on 2-22-2009 at 10:04 am

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