When?

Monday, September 10 2012 at 7:30PM

Download iCalendar file

(e.g. import to Outlook or Google Calendar)

Where?

The Admiral

72a Waterloo Street

Who?

Prof Darren Monckton & Dr Colin Clark

What's the talk about?

with Prof Darren Monckton & Dr Colin Clark

Part 1: Darren Monckton, University of Glasgow, Professor of Human Genetics

Evolution through natural selection has generated a vast array of biological diversity with the planet populated by millions of different species, of plants, animals and microbes. This biological diversity has its primary foundation in the genetic differences between species. However, defining what exactly constitutes a species remains a persistent problem in biology. Likewise, what defines a sub-species or race, remains even more subjective. Modern humans evolved in Africa about one million years ago and spread out of Africa to populate the planet about 60,000 years ago. Understanding how human genetic diversity is differentially distributed remains critical in our current efforts to identify disease-causing genetic variants and use these to develop novel therapies. In his talk, Darren will examine the degree of genetic variation that exists among all humans, that which is "population specific", and gene flow between populations, to help to shed some light on whether or not race exists.

--

Part 2: Dr Colin Clark, University of Strathclyde, Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Colin's presentation, from a social constructionist position, will argue that 'races' do not exist in a fixed biological sense. Further, the more recent designation of 'ethnic groups' is an equally dangerous tool for social/group categorisation. Our concern should be with the way in which the term 'race' is routinely deployed, situated and reproduced for ideological and political ends. A preferred focus might be with the process of 'racialisation'; that is, we should be critically examining the ways in which ideas of 'race' become racialised in an everyday manner by those in power in order to oppress, subjugate and discriminate. That is, processes of racialisation have very real and serious material consequences for those groups that have been effectively racialised (for example, in Glasgow, witness the recent experiences of the Roma in Govanhill). In short, Colin will argue that 'race' is a monster, and that as an analytical concept, it is both flawed and redundant.

Darren G. Monckton obtained a BSc in biochemistry from the University of Bath (1989) and a PhD in human genetics from the University of Leicester (1992). He did postdoctoral research in Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas, USA), where he was the Muscular Dystrophy Association Sammy Davies Junior Neuromuscular Disease Research Fellow. In 1996 he took up a lectureship in genetics at the University of Glasgow, where he was also the recipient of a Lister Institute Research Fellowship. He was the Scientific Meetings Secretary of the Genetics Society from 2002-2006. In 2005, in collaboration with the artist Jacqueline Donachie, he produced a film ‘Tomorrow belongs to me’. He is currently Professor of Human Genetics and Director of the University of Glasgow Wellcome Trust four-year PhD programme. He teaches genetics on a range of courses, and leads a research team investigating the basis of genetic instability in disorders such as myotonic dystrophy and Huntington disease. He has presented more than 100 invited seminars and lectures, including the Genetics Society Balfour Lecture, the Tenovus Scotland medal lecture and many to patient groups. He is a Scientific Advisor to the Myotonic Dystrophy Support Group (UK) and the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (USA).

--

Dr Colin Clark is Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) and Head of the Graduate School for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He is also Senior Lecturer in Sociology. His research is mainly located within the broad field of Ethnic and Racial Studies, with particular interests in Romani Studies, nationalism and migration. For further details please see here.