Bert Vogelstein was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to receive his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has served as the director of the Ludwig Center, a Clayton Professor of Oncology and Pathology, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator for Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He is best known for his work in cancer genomics, and has studied human tumors extensively. In this history, Vogelstein discusses his work as a research doctor and his time at Hopkins. This oral history is part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.

Donald S. Coffey was born on October 10, 1932 in Bristol, Virginia. He attended King College there before transferring to the University of East Tennessee. In 1957, Coffey moved to Baltimore to work for Westinghouse, after which he took night classes at the Hopkins night school (McCoy College) and eventually began to work for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Brady Research Laboratory. This led Coffey to apply to the Department of Physiological Chemistry in the medical school for his graduate education. Coffey subsequently received his Ph.D. in 1964, became a professor of urology in the School of Medicine, and served as editor for many scholarly journals. In this oral history, Coffey discusses his early life, how he came to work at Hopkins, and his colleagues and work in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This oral history is part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.

Host Lynn Poole reviews highlights of programs from the past year: "Freezing the Atom" (10/10/50) shows how atoms are slowed down and the development of the bolometer; "Electronics at Work in a Vacuum"(10/25/50) describes the development of the vacuum tube and the principles behind it, using puffed wheat in a jar as an example; "Your Questions About Science" (12/26/50) explains and demonstrates atomic chain reaction or nuclear fission using mouse traps and sugar cubes; "The Unbreakable Laws of the Universe" (1/2/51) explains the physical laws governing all things: inertia, action and equal reaction, conservation of motion, gravity, and atmospheric pressure; "Fight Against Polio" (1/16/51) filmed at the Children's Hospital in Baltimore, MD, shows how polio victims are being strengthened and restored to a normal life; "Don't Take Your Heart for Granted" (2/13/51) describes what the heart is, what can happen to it, and how to take care of it; "Archaeology: Key to the Past" (3/13/51) looks at the work of archaeologists and their study of the lost civilization of the Etruscans; "Cancer Will Be Conquered" (4/10/51) features Dr. Gey describing the differences between normal and cancerous cells and showing a magnified, live view of the separation of normal and abnormal human cells; "Is There Science in Art?" (2/27/51) reveals the science of cleaning varnish and dirt from old paintings at the Walters Art Gallery and the art of using x-rays and ultraviolet light to restore old paintings to their original intent. Poole also thanks the studio staff and mentions other favorite programs: "Fear" (103/50), "X-Ray, the Super Sleuth" (12/5/50), "Stream Pollution" (5/1/51), "Don't Drink That Water" (3/20/51), "Schistosomiasis" (11/21/50), and "Magnificent Microscope" (5/15/51).

Comparisons between normal and cancerous cells show chemical differences between them. This will lead to the development of viruses and other organisms that will be able to kill cancer cells without harming normal cells.