About the Event

Life is a strange subject, but it affects us all - one Australian is born every 1.45 minutes, while one dies every 3.25 minutes. We’re good at talking about the beginnings of life, but pretty awkward when it comes to facing the end.

LIFE in Perth

The instructions for life are written in our DNA, but what if you could help the next generation to be stronger, taller, smarter, slimmer, free of birth defects and generally healthier later in life - would you use that power? Should you?

Almost as if it has been plucked from a sci-fi novel, scientists have been learning to use genes to the advantage of health, life and longevity. Research in Epigenetics has been going on for some time and the revolutionary findings that have been discovered when you simply turn specific genes on or off, are astounding.

However due to social and ethical pressures, these advancements in evolution have been restricted to the world of plants and a few selective animals species. But for how long?

LIFE in Perth aims to discuss this rapid evolution of genes, the origins of life and if altering developing cells is really the right thing to do. Farmers have been selectively doing this by cross pollinating crops for centuries, so why are genetically modified plants so controversial and considered a completely new step for our society?

Join our three speakers to discuss the ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘if’ of epigenetics, and its future.

Hosted by science broadcaster Bernie Hobbs and guest speakers:

Dr Hayley Dickinson, Embriology and Placental Biology, Hudson Institute for Medical Research

Professor Ryan Lister, Lister Lab, University of Western Australia

Dr Brenda McGivern, Law School, University of Western Australia

---