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We all know the importance of sex in our lives. Still, there are many aspects that are not well known. Does sex dominate our behaviours? How does the environment influence our sexual life? How can the female body heal every month, without leaving a scar? Join us for a pint with two brilliant Edinburgh-based scientists, as we try to answer to some of these questions. Please note that this event takes place on the lower ground floor and is not accessible for those with impaired mobility.
Programmed for sex
We are here for one reason: to reproduce. Evolution has shaped us for this one purpose. As this talk will explain, long before hormones get their grip on us at puberty, the focus is on future reproduction (and sex). Consequently, reproductive-oriented behaviours permeate our lives and every aspect of our physiology and development is geared towards this. Diet/nutrition and reproduction are tightly linked and nature has evolved ingenious ways to optimize reproductive development and function in future generations through changes to the diet of the present generation.
And when I get that feeling, I want scarless healing
The lining of the womb (the endometrium) is a highly dynamic tissue that goes through these repeated cycles of wounding and tissue loss without getting damaged or ever accumulating any scar tissue in the process. The endometrium is absolutely fascinating in its ability to constantly wound and heal without scarring, so I use this tissue as a model to investigate the mechanisms behind the phenomenon of scarless healing.
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