ANGEL MORRIS
FILM EDITOR & PRODUCER
ANGEL MORRIS
EDITOR AND FILMMAKER
SCIENTISTS AT WORK
"Scientists at Work" is a collection of educational short films curated for HHMI BioInteractive, which provides an immersive and enlightening glimpse into the daily lives and research endeavors of STEM professionals. In my role as the lead editor across the series, my primary objective was to bring a fresh creative approach to conveying complex scientific concepts. I strived to make subjects like evolutionary biology, genetics, and various other intricate themes more accessible and engaging for students. Through a blend of innovative storytelling techniques and captivating visuals, we aimed to break down the barriers of traditional pedagogy, making scientific exploration an inspiring journey that resonates with learners of all backgrounds and levels of familiarity with the subject matter.
The Genetics of Tusklessness
Normally, more than 90% of female African elephants have tusks. But in Gorongosa National Park, which has a history of heavy poaching, over 50% of the elephants are tuskless. To study this striking phenomenon, scientists are trying to determine the genes involved in tusk development and how variations in these genes can lead to tusklessness. In this video, biologist Shane Campbell-Staton walks through the steps of collecting DNA samples from elephants in Gorongosa and how he plans to analyze their DNA sequences.
Mapping Migrations
Migratory birds are declining across the Western Hemisphere. Because migratory birds travel vast distances between breeding and wintering areas, understanding why populations are declining has been difficult. Similar to a human ancestry service, the researchers of the Bird Genoscape Project use genetic information in the tip of a bird feather to identify the breeding origin of individuals captured along the migratory pathway.
From Dog DNA to Human Diseases
This video follows biologist Elinor Karlsson, who studies dogs to find genes associated with traits, including certain diseases. Due to a long history of selective breeding, dogs within a breed are almost genetically identical. This makes them ideal for finding genetic differences associated with traits of interest. Scientists focus on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): specific positions in the genome where nucleotides are known to vary among dogs. They can use SNPs to locate genes associated with diseases such as cancer, which may also inform human medicine.
Little Lizard, Big City
Biologists Shane Campbell-Staton and Kristin Winchill take us on a journey to find out how anoles living in urban environments, such as cities, are evolving differently from their forest-dwelling counterparts. Using different research methods (including lizard racetracks), Shane and Kristin determine how limb length, toe pads, and other factors may contribute to the success of species like the Puerto Rican Crested Anole.
Preserving Maize Genetic Diversity
This video follows germplasm bank coordinator Cristian Zavala Espinosa and geneticist Sarah Hearne, who are part of the global effort to preserve the genetic diversity of maize (corn). The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (or CIMMYT) in Mexico protects the diversity of maize by storing seeds and cataloging more than 28,000 different native varieties. Researchers such as Hearne use valuable genetic information about the maize stored here to identify genetic traits that may protect maize crops as climates shift.
