Both the science of genetics and the biotech industry have shaped and prolonged human life greatly. This two-part lecture will cover topics related to the progression of this field of study, starting with Mendel and Darwin’s seminal work that inspired early geneticists and the beginnings of what is called the Modern Synthesis of Genetics. We will then talk about the misuses of genetics in topics such as eugenics. We will continue by looking at the start of the modern molecular biology age in the 1970s, the explosion of biotechnology in the last twenty years, cutting edge technological advancements, and finally, what potentially lies ahead for us.

Wesley Tierney (M.S.) is currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Arizona State University. He studies the mechanisms of Herpes Simplex Virus infection of neurons. He has worked in various research labs for eight years ranging from social psychology, entomology, regenerative medicine, virology, and neuroscience.