Saturday, July 20, 2013

Molecular Models In The Films

By Charlie Allbright


Models at the Films

Indigo Instruments isn't only about supplying scientific kit to schools technicians, homeschoolers and students undertaking their science fair project. No! A fair handful of molecular models and numerous other items have made their way to Hollywood, got themselves on the little screen and featured in some offbeat web experiments.

VP Stephan Logan explains how Rob Cohen's 2005 movie "Stealth" is described on the internet Film Database as "Surprisingly enjoyable". Why? Simply because a plot line primarily based on 3 pilots deeply ensconced inside a top-secret military system struggling to bring an artificial intelligence program beneath manage prior to it initiates WWIII sounds just so unsurprising. The movie attributes intense action, violence and innuendo. But, much more excitingly additionally, it attributes a 17-layer DNA model from Indigo. So, for what was it these pilots needed a model of DNA? You will have to watch the movie to find out.

Among Indigo's "anatomically correct" 12-layer DNA models also features within the existing hit movie "Fantastic 4." In this marvelous piece of cinema, a group of astronauts acquire superpowers soon after becoming exposed to cosmic radiation (yeah, correct!) and are destined to make use of them in fighting the world-dominating plans of the evil Doctor Victor Von Doom. They could not have believed of a much more corny name for the villain, but at the least the DNA molecular model employed inside the movie is scientifically precise, possessing been constructed to the highest specifications by Indigo's Logan himself.

As soon as once again, superheroes will be the subject of another film to feature molecular model kits supplied to Hollywood by Indigo Instruments. In "Return of Zoom", a movie primarily based on the graphic novel "Zoom's Academy for the Super Gifted" by Jason Lethcoe, an unpopular high school girl sent to superhero college by her "mysterious" father and discovers her hidden talents (a la Harry Potter, methinks). The makers of this film, also utilized a DNA model from Indigo to reveal the inner workings of human genetics at the molecular level. Unfortunately, for Indigo's image, the director asked for the model to be specially created so that it would fall apart effortlessly. Never ask why, you'll must go see the film. Needless to say, any models you get from Indigo Instruments is going to be created to much more exacting requirements and are guaranteed to not fall apart!

Stepping back in the superheroes, Indigo Instruments was proud also to provide a entire series of chemical models for the creating of Eddie Murphy blockbuster, "The Nutty Professor". Mineral models which includes an enormous zeolite model as well as a model on the structure of diamond have been utilised to fantastic effect within the movie as Professor Sherman Klump, desperately wanting to drop weight, requires a chemical cocktail that morphs him into the slimly obnoxious Buddy Love. The mineral models feature prominently as classic examples of Klump's laboratory equipment.

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Molecular models from Indigo Instruments have not only caught Hollywood's eye, but arthouse directors have turned to Indigo Instruments to provide them with molecular models as well. So, Indigo can now lay claim to having appeared in the Toronto Film Festival.

DNA as well as other molecular models from Indigo, have also hit the tiny screen in Tv crime show "Law & Order", in sci-fi classic "Stargate Atlantis", and on CBS News during the celebrations on the 50th anniversary from the discovery of the structure of DNA.

It's not just the entertainment industry that is fascinated by Indigo's DNA models. "We've also sold a 17-layer DNA model to such organizations as Bell Labs, IBM, and even shipped 1 to Erasmus University Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where the SARS virus was first identified," says Indigo SD Stephan Logan. In addition NASA lesson plans such as their magnets and life lesson cites Indigo Instruments as a useful source of powerful rare earth magnets. Images from Indigo Instruments have been employed on countless lecture tours and in science demonstrations like those by staff at Wisha University. A chemical flask from Indigo has even been adapted to make a heliograph, or sun tracker.

"We have sold DNA models to lawyers for court cases involving patent issues," adds Logan, "major museums and institutions, such as the Bill Clinton Museum, Howard Hughes Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Hospital, US Naval Academy, Harvard University, New York University and elsewhere, also have our DNA models and others on display." Intriguingly, even the infamous Martha Stewart has bought glassware from Indigo, inside the form of test tubes and Erlenmeyer flasks for use in floral arrangements.




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