Nature, nurture or neither? The view from the genes

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• Friday 29 January 2010
• 8.00pm-9.15pm
• Lecturers: Prof Steve Jones

Genetics is a remarkable science in many ways, some obvious and some less so. As Prof Jones says to his students in their first lecture on the subject, "My job is to make sex boring" and, after thirty lectures on DNA structure and the like they tend to agree. To cheer them up, at the end of the course he tells them that two out of every three of them will die for reasons connected to the genes they carry - and, with so much mortality coming from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and the like (all of which have an inherited component) Steve is right again. To the public, genetics brings exaggerated fears about inborn fate and over-optimism about gene therapy and 'designer babies'. Prof Jones will talk about the most dangerous word in genetics: the idea of a gene "for" a particular attribute, from alcoholism to religious belief and how DNA and way of life nearly always work together to determine our health, our mood and - perhaps - even our willingness to take risks, go shopping or buy shares.

FEDs are only open to Ri Members and their guests. Tickets are free to Ri Full/Faraday Members, £10 Associate Members and £15 guests.

A two/three course meal is available prior to the Discourse (at 6pm) for £15.95 and £19.95 respectively. Have a look at our often-changing food menu and our comprehensive wine list. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly. For restaurant reservations, please call 020 7670 2956.