[Sci-tech-public] Gene Times and Life Times: How DNA is used to Make History, Friday, March 2, 11:30-1:00, at Harvard

[Debbie Meinbresse]

>Join the Life Sciences/Environmental Sciences Working Group on 
>Friday, March 2, 11:30 - 1 pm, in 252 Science Center (note the 
>special earlier time)
>
>to hear Hallam Stevens talk on: "Gene Times and Life Times:  How DNA 
>is used to Make History"
>
>Abstract:  DNA is now used not only for diagnosing disease and 
>identifying criminals, but also for investigating the past. 
>Beginning with the so-called 'mitochondrial Eve,' our genes have 
>been deployed as tools to examine the relationships between 
>individuals, families, and populations. Our DNA has been 
>re-fashioned as a 'molecular clock' that carries our own history 
>along inside of our cells. My talk will explore some of the 
>implications of such "genetic histories," arguing that they stand at 
>a nexus between politics, identity, and biotechnology. In 
>particular, I will suggest some ways in which "genetic histories" 
>might be beginning to affect society's relationship with history, 
>memory, and the past.
>
>As always, lunch will be served, and RSVPs to Ellen Guarente at 
><mailto:guarente at fas.harvard.edu>guarente at fas.harvard.edu are 
>greatly appreciated.
>
Please make a note of these upcoming Life Sciences/Environmental 
Sciences Working Group meetings:
>>>Mar. 16    Kavita Phillip, Women's Studies, UC-Irvine, title TBA
>>>                 (joint meeting with Political Economy Group, Anthro Dept)
>>>
>>>Apr.  6     Harriet Ritvo, Professor of History, MIT
>>>                 "Counting Sheep in the English Lake District: 
>>> Rare Breeds, Local Knowledge, and Native Charisma"
>>>                 (note special end time of 1:45)
>>>
>>>  Apr.  20   Alex Wellerstein, History of Science, Harvard
>>>                  "Discretion, authority, and the knife: Towards a 
>>> practice-based account of eugenics and sterilization in California."
>>>
>>>  May 4     Nadine Weidman, Harvard Extension School
>>>                 "Popularizing the Ancestry of Man: Ardrey, Dart, 
>>> and the Killer Instinct"
>>>
>>>  Special event of interest:
>>>
>>>  May 9     OEB/History of Science jointly sponsored presentation by
>>>
>>>    Matt Ridley, 'Francis Crick's place in History'
>>>                More information to follow
>>>
>>>**********************************
>>>Kara W. Swanson, B.S., M.A., J.D.
>>>Ph.D. Candidate
>>>History of Science
>>>Harvard University
>>>Science Center 371
>>>Cambridge, MA 02138
>>><mailto:kswanson at fas.harvard.edu>kswanson at fas.harvard.edu

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/sci-tech-public/attachments/20070228/51dc63d7/attachment.htm