Feel the pulse and examine the pumping mechanism of the Bloodstream Superhighway, a 100-foot-long tube pumping blood-like fluid. Explore what makes us human and what keeps us alive, including topics like physiology, genetics and cell biology. The Cell Lab is a unique hands-on biology experience run by volunteers and youth staff. (Hours vary.)

Special Projects in the Human Body Gallery

NEW! Molecules and Health exhibit
Molecules and Health: The Shape of Science offers a rare, close-up look at the microscopic particles that make up every substance around us. Highlights of Molecules and Health include a "molecular measuring stick," which will give visitors a sense of the microscopic sense of molecules; a build-your-own-molecule station; The Molecule Match Game, where visitors can match molecules with common objects; and an opportunity to guide a magnetically active "molecule" through a maze of bacteria and germs, and more.

Tissues of Life
Learn about the four tissue types in the body, how tissues heal, what happens when tissues are invaded by microbes or damaged, and how new tissues form from stem cells. See real human tissue and solve a medical mystery. Check out Tissues of Life for more information.

Tissues of Life is funded by the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.

Habits of the Heart
The Habits of the Heart includes classroom activities as well as videos, website animations, interactives, a student exhibit guide, and a virtual tour of the Human Body Gallery developed with help from area elementary schools.

Habits of the Heart was funded by the Medtronic Foundation's STAR program.

What is the Human Genome? (PDF | 248 KB)
This map shows some of the approximately 25,000 genes in a human cell. Each rod on the map represents a chromosome. Each chromosome contains an arrangement of several hundred genes. The blue bands represent a stain that researchers use to identify chromosomes.