STUDY DAY ON EVOLUTION AND GENETICS – 4th JUNE 2014

Evolution of life is a fascinating subject, with the first theories preceding any knowledge of genetics. The science of genetics only took off at the beginning of the 20th century. Applications of genetics, involving genetic engineering and tissue culturing, is a current controversial issue.
To explore aspects of these matters more fully Pembrokeshire U3A and Narberth U3A Science Groups invite members of their U3As and members of other U3As to attend a Special Study Day on Wednesday, June 4th from 10am to 3pm at the Crundale Community Hall, Haverfordwest.

Programme
9.30-10.00 am Reception at Crundale Community Hall – Coffee and Tea.
10.00-11.00 am – Presentation by Professor Anthony Campbell on Alfred Russel Wallace – the British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist. He is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural selection; his paper on the subject was jointly published with some of Charles Darwin’s writings in 1858. This prompted Darwin to publish his own ideas in On the Origin of Species. Wallace was one of the leading evolutionary thinkers of the 19th century and made many other contributions to the development of evolutionary theory besides being co-discoverer of natural selection.
11.00 -11.30am – Break for Coffee and Tea.
11.30 – 12.30pm – Presentation by Phillip Mahiques on The Origins of Genetics – the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms. Genetics is the process of trait inheritance from parents to offspring, including the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behaviour and variation and it can be applied to the study of all living systems.
12.30 – 1.45pm – Buffet Lunch, Coffee and Tea.
1.45 – 2.45pm – Presentation by Professor Tudor Thomas on The Application of Genetics to Plant Modification – The observation that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding. This presentation will be concerned with recent research work on plant improvements.

The cost for this Study Day is £10 per person. This includes the buffet lunch, coffee, tea and biscuits. Bookings may be made by contacting Graham Goodeve and making payment by cheque (payable to Pembrokeshire U3A) to 10 Castle Rise, Spittal, Haverfordwest, SA62 5QW by Friday 30th May.
Please quote your name and telephone number or e-mail address or home address with your booking request to receive directions to Crundale Community Hall.

The Speakers
Professor Anthony Campbell is the Professor of Medical Biochemistry in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science at Cardiff University and he is the Director of the Darwin Centre.

Phillip Mahiques a former teacher of Biological Science and Head of Science at Wycliffe College, and now the Leader of the Narberth U3A Natural History Group.

Professor Tudor Thomas is also a member of Narberth U3A. Formerly he was Director of the Broom’s Barn Experimental Station, the UK Centre for Sugar Beet Research and was Head of the Weed Research Division at the Long Ashton Research Station.

Graham Goodeve 2nd April 2014