Genetic code-breaking

...what DNA can (and can't) tell us about our past. Each of us carries a treasure-trove of information about our ancestors in the form of DNA. For a little bit of saliva and a not-so-little bit of cash, numerous direct-to-consumer genetic services now offer people an insight into their ancestry. With a scientist’s eye, I'll talk about what DNA can (and can't) tell us about the ghosts of our ancestors - not just as individuals, but as populations of people with a lively history of migration, isolation, and mixture.

Every gene in your genome is a potential drug target, and every mutation a potential drug. We each play host to thousands of naturally-occurring drug trials: subtle genetic differences that change the way our bodies work. Some of us are testing a "drug" that helps to maintain a healthy body weight. Others are testing a "drug" that reduces the risk of heart disease. Come and learn how we use genetics - nature's clinical trial - to guide real drug discovery, and how an electronic health record can help to avoid serious side effects.