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Lecture: The Common Thread: A Story of Science, Politics, Ethics and the Human Genome
Barcelona, 7 October 2003
Lecture by Sir John E. Sulston, 2002 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, who headed the British team that played such a decisive role in the sequencing of the human genome. Dr Sulston is the former director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
The sequencing of the human genome is, unquestionably, one of the crowning scientific achievements of the 20th century. However, what does this discovery mean for future medicine and the advancement of our own knowledge? It is one of the questions that Dr Sulston will address in his lecture. Prompted by the recent “gene rush”, in which certain companies claimed property rights to parts of the genome, this account by one of its most emblematic leaders will focus on the development of a controversial history, and the relentless defence to ensure that this heritage stays within public reach. His tireless efforts have made genome sequences available for all mankind.
The lecture coincides with the presentation of Dr Sulston’s book, co-authored with Georgina Ferry: The Common Thread: A Story of Science, Politics, Ethics and the Human Genome. This event is one of several activities programmed by ”la Caixa” Foundation to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix of the DNA structure. On 25 April 1953, the prestigious scientific journal Nature published an article by James Watson and Francis Crick in which they revealed the chemical structure of the DNA molecule. It was one of the leading scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century in the field of Biology.
Conference: “The Common Thread: A Story of Science, Politics, Ethics and the Human Genome”
Science Museum of ”la Caixa” Foundation
Provisional location. Passeig de Sant Joan, 108. Barcelona
Information Service of ”la Caixa” Foundation
Tel.: 902 22 30 40
http://www.fundacio.lacaixa.es
info.fundacio@lacaixa.es
Day: Tuesday, 7 October 2003
Time: 7:00 PM
Admission free of charge. Seating is limited.
Note: John Suslston will give a lecture in CosmoCaixa (Madrid) on october 9th, 2003 at 19.30 hs.
More Information: 91 484 52 00
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