Illuminating biology: An evolutionary perspective

Biologists, educators hold symposium and special workshop at national biology teachers meeting in Memphis, Tenn.

On 16-17 October 2008, the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) will convene a special symposium and workshop for educators at the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) conference in Memphis, TN. The special symposium, which has become a successful part of each year's NABT conference, provides classroom teachers with an opportunity to hear directly from internationally recognized evolutionary biology scholars to obtain information about current evolutionary biology research that can be used in the classroom to bring science alive and make it particularly relevant to students.

The theme for the 2008 symposium is Illuminating Biology: An Evolutionary Perspective. This year's symposium focuses on the benefits of applying evolutionary theory in biological sub-disciplines where evolutionary concepts have not traditionally played a prominent role. The four speakers will provide examples of successful evolutionary-based research in biochemistry, developmental biology, molecular biology, and neurobiology. A workshop will be held the day after the symposium to provide educators with tools to bring this message back to their students.

THE SYMPOSIUM

Date: Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Time: 12:30 - 4:00 PM
Location: Memphis Cook Convention Center, Room L2
Registration: To attend the Evolution Symposium, register for the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Professional Development Conference. Information on registration and other logistics are found at: http://www.nabt2008.org/. Accredited members of the news media should contact Susan Musante at .

12:30-12:40: Dr. Gordon Uno - University of Oklahoma and Chair of AIBS Education Committee
Introduction

12:40-1:10: Dr. Joram Piatigorsky - National Eye Institute, NIH
Gene Sharing and Evolution: Surprising Lessons from Lens Crystallins

Piatigorsky's lab has developed the concept of "gene sharing" through their studies on lens crystallins, abundant water-soluble proteins of the transparent lens responsible for its optical, refractive properties required for focused vision. Gene sharing refers to the way that a single gene may be involved in multiple functions. Gene sharing allows proteins to serve new functions without relinquishing their original functions. Gene sharing occurs widely and appears to be a fundamental principle of evolution.

1:20-1:50: Dr. Robert Blankenship - Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Evolutionary Relationships Among Phototrophic Bacteria Deduced from Whole Genome Comparisons