‘The Mouse Knitting a DNA Strand’: The most touching monument to science
It's not just a cute sculpture, but an entire legacy cast in bronze.
A monument called ‘The Mouse Knitting a DNA Strand’ stands in the square near the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in the town of Akademgorodok, not far from Novosibirsk.
Scientists from this institute domesticated foxes, decoded the genome of the malaria mosquito and made many other important scientific discoveries.
In 2013, a symbol of gratitude to laboratory mice, without whom there would have been no breakthroughs in genetics, was erected in the square. A mouse in glasses is knitting a double DNA helix with knitting needles. And it's not just any mouse: it, too, is a scientist, albeit an unnamed one. This gesture is a metaphor for scientific labor, as researchers literally decipher genetic codes "thread by thread".
There's another secret: the lamppost columns in front of the monument feature the four phases of cell division. The most attentive visitors will also find images of other laboratory animals scattered throughout the square. However, only the most observant can spot them!
Akademgorodok is a famous settlement for scientists near Novosibirsk, built in the mid-20th century. It’s home to more than 20 research institutes and laboratories.
