The great ideas of biology February 8, 2010

Three of the ideas of biology are the gene theory, the theory of evolution by natural selection and the proposal that the cell is the fundamental unit of all life.
When considering the question of ‘what is life?’ these ideas come together, because the special way cells reproduce provides the conditions by which natural selection takes place allowing living organisms to evolve.
A fourth idea is that the organization of chemistry within the cell provides explanations for life’s phenomena.
A new idea is the nature of biological self organization on which living cells and organisms process information and acquire specific forms.
Sir Paul Nurse will discuss how these great ideas have influenced and changed the way we think of science today.

Sir Paul Nurse FRS shared the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and became president of The Rockefeller University in September 2003. He had previously served as chief executive of Cancer Research UK.

Admission free – no ticket or advance booking required. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Doors will open at 5.45pm.

Official Website: http://royalsociety.org/The-great-ideas-of-biology/