Is food love-hate coded in your DNA?
Can your DNA say if you love or hate Marmite, or prefer a Malbec over Merlot? Genetic testing is hitting the mainstream, but what can your DNA actually reveal about you? Join us on Valentine’s night for the first event of a lively new series of Café Sci to find out more about the real science truths, and discuss how you think genetic data should be used.
‘What does your DNA actually say about you?’ is a free Café Sci event that will be held on Wednesday 14th February at 7pm, at the Locker Café, 54 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LN.
Patrick Short* is a scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute who specialises in the study of human genetics. He will explore how millions of people are using DIY genetic test kits to learn more about their ancestry, risk for diseases like breast cancer, and discover how to improve treatment for diseases they already have.
But does it end there? Can your DNA also tell you what food and drink you like, or even predict your fitness and sporting prowess? We invite you to Café Sci to discuss potential applications of genetic testing technology and separate the science from the myths and wishful thinking.
This Valentine’s special is the first of an exciting new programme of monthly Café Sci events in Cambridge. From the dark side of wearable fitness technologies and the study of brains in sheep, to origami folding proteins and the hunt for monster galaxies, find out about the latest research from the brightest minds in and around Cambridge. The re-launch of Café Sci Cambridge is brought to you by Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement.
More information
* Patrick Short is a final-year PhD student at the Wellcome Sanger Institute working with Dr. Matt Hurles on understanding the role of mutations outside of genes in severe developmental disorders. Patrick has also co-founded a start-up called Heterogeneous that allows individuals to contribute their genetic data to different research projects with full control over how their data is used and who it is accessed by.
Selected websites
Café Sci
Café Scientifique is the worldwide conversational event programme bringing topical science to the public. With an emphasis on informality, venues are usually cafes or bars while discussion replaces PowerPoint and lecterns. You can view Café Scientifiques in towns and cities across the world by following this link: http://cafescientifique.org/
Café Sci Cambridge
Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement are delighted to be re-launching Café Sci Cambridge in 2018 – bringing top scientists and ground-breaking discoveries to new audiences for the price of a cup of coffee. Our venue is the Locker Cafe in King Street, Cambridge. Events will be held once a month on a Wednesday. Visit our website for more information: www.cafescicambridge.org
About Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement
Through a wide range of projects, activities, visits and events Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement encourages exploration and discussion about genomics, from exciting research findings to the social and ethical questions it can raise. Working together with collaborators in scientific research, the arts and humanities, public engagement and education specialists, and cultural organisations, we aim to share knowledge, spark discussions, and foster a community of engaged researchers. Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement is part of Connecting Science. www.wellcomegenomecampus.org/publicengagement
About Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science
Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science’s mission is to enable everyone to explore genomic science and its impact on research, health and society. We connect researchers, health professionals and the wider public, creating opportunities and spaces to explore genomic science and its impact on people. Connecting Science inspires new thinking, sparks conversation, supports learning and measures attitudes, drawing on the ground-breaking research taking place on the Wellcome Genome Campus. www.wellcomegenomecampus.org/connectingscience
The Wellcome Sanger Institute
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is one of the world’s leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. To celebrate its 25th year in 2018, the Institute is sequencing 25 new genomes of species in the UK. Find out more at www.sanger.ac.uk or follow @sangerinstitute
Wellcome
Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. We’re a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. wellcome.org
