The Elegant Worm

Ahna Skop believes passionately that art and science are two ways of knowing the world, and she is active in both. She was raised by parents who were artists who taught her that creativity is present—in fact essential—in every field of endeavor. She is enthusiastic about what she sees through the lens of a microscope and driven by the beauty of it.

Skop is assistant professor of genetics at the University of Wisconsin, and is recognized for her innovative research into the mechanisms of cytokinesis, “…one of the most fundamental of cellular events,” she says. “It is fundamental to growth and development of all life on this planet.”

In 2007 Skop received the Presidential Early Career Award for scientists and engineers. Her work with C. elegans has led to discoveries that offer potential treatments for cancer.

Skop loves sharing C. elegans with the world: "I look through my microscope and the organisms I see are beautiful and exciting. I take pictures of this microscopic world so that I can share it with others. At the same time, these creatures are also the focus of my research. For me, science
and art are intertwined."

• In this exhibit, you'll see c. elegans live! A real microscope with video head lets visitors look at live specimens.

For more information on Ahna Skop, go to http://www.genetics.wisc.edu/faculty/profile.php?id=160