What Molecular Biology Teaches Us About Being Human

Can 21st-century molecular biology answer age-old questions about the human experience? Can studying proteins and DNA help us understand how we make our choices in sex and love? How we communicate? Where our emotions come from? Why we age and die?  In his talks as well as in his recent book, Sex, Love and DNA, scientist and educator Peter Schattner explores the amazing world of molecular biology through engaging and entertaining stories of people who don't feel pain because of rare genetic variants, children whose DNA enables them to perform unusual feats of strength, and people who can't speak or read simply because they lack certain proteins. Using simple language that anyone can understand, Schattner will show you how science is revolutionizing our understanding of what it means to be human.
 
Peter Schattner is a scientist, educator and writer with 30 years of research experience spanning diverse fields from molecular biology and genetics to biomedical instrumentation and theoretical physics. He received his Ph.D. from M.I.T and has held research and teaching positions at the University of California, California State University, Stanford Research Institute and Diasonics, Inc. He is the author of numerous scientific articles, reviews as well as a textbook.  For more information visit Dr. Schattner's website, www.peterschattner.com.
 
This event is sponsored by the Bay Area Humanists.  Everyone is welcome.