Global Climate Change | Evolution Matters

Evolution Matters: The Diversity of Development
Evolution Matters is a continuation of the award-winning Grey Matters lecture series, presented by the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences and supported by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Kirin Pharma.

All lectures are held in the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater. Books are available for purchase in the Museum Store. Don't forget to see our new Webcasts.

All lectures held at 6:30 PM. Please arrive early to go through security and obtain seating.

Clockwork Genes: Biological Rhythms in Health and Agriculture
Steve A Kay, Ph.D., Dean, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego
Both plants and animals have evolved highly accurate daily clocks, or circadian rhythms, to appropriately control behavior and metabolism. These cycles include sleep, blood pressure, fat metabolism, and cognitive abilities. Explore how these clocks are constructed within our bodies, how they differ among organisms, and how the new field of systems biology may allow us ultimately to manipulate them to benefit health and agriculture.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007— Webcast available from UCSD TV

Embryos and Evolution
William McGinnis, Ph.D., Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego
A series of bizarre mutations in fruit flies led to the discovery that all animals, whether fish, fowl, or fly, share similar architectural control genes called Homeobox genes. These genes provide a pattern to construct organisms of incredibly diversity, beauty, and complexity. The discovery and study of Homeobox genes has opened a complex window into the development of life and has led to an understanding of how subtle changes in Homeobox genes can lead to changes in animal form. Learn about the deep and profound kinship between all species, despite how different they appear on the outside.
Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Evolution of Complexity: From the Human Brain to the Rainforest
Christopher Wills, Ph.D., Professor, Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego
How have complex systems, such as the human brain or coral reefs, evolved? Recent research has revealed important genetic and ecological processes that these complex systems have in common. Look at some of the genes that are involved in this process, and see how they have changed during our recent evolutionary history. Discover a process called frequency-dependent selection and explore the fragility of these complex ecosystems.
Thursday, February 28, 2008

Unraveling the Mysteries of Flower Formation
Martin Yanofsky, Ph.D., Chair, Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego
For thousands of years, people have pondered the mysteries of flower development and how these flowers ultimately give rise to the fruit. Recent studies have begun to unravel these long-standing mysteries, leading to a detailed understanding of how a handful of genes interact to direct the formation of flowers and fruit. This newfound knowledge offers remarkable opportunities for increasing the yield of agriculturally important crop plants.
Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Genetics of Primate Evolution: A Rosetta Stone for Understanding Human Disease
Ajit Varki, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Cellular/Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
One powerful approach to understanding human evolution is the genetic one. When comparing individual protein sequences, humans are remarkably similar to our closest evolutionary relatives, the great apes. Despite these similarities, there are remarkable differences between humans and great apes in the incidence and severity of many major diseases and some of these differences may be explained on a genetic basis. Learn about human susceptibility or resistance to some microbial pathogens and effects on the immune system and the unusual expression of a sialic acid called "Gc."
Thursday, April 24, 2008

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