Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D.
WHAT: From Junk to Genes: The birth of new miRNA genes in the human genome.
One of the biggest surprises of the genomics era is the discovery that every family, genus, and even species, has a shocking number of unique genes that are not found in closely related species. These so-called “orphan genes” have intrigued scientists for the past two decades and their diverse origins are beginning to come to light. In this presentation, I will present evidence that at least two families of human-unique micro-RNA genes have been created through random genomic rearrangements. These micro-RNAs tweak the expression of hundreds of genes in tissues throughout the body and may have played a role in the unique evolutionary trajectory of our species.
WHO: Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D. is Professor of Biology at John Jay College of The City University of New York and the author of the popular science books Not So Different and Human Errors. He holds a Ph.D. in human physiology and completed postdoctoral training in genomics and bioinformatics at NYU Medical Center. In addition to dozens of research articles and book chapters, his writing on human evolution can be seen in the pages of Science, the Wall Street Journal, Skeptic, Skeptical Inquirer, and many others. His laboratory studies the evolution of the human genome and the genetic basis of human uniqueness.
WHEN: 7:30PM Thursday February 11
WHERE: Online. (Link coming soon)
HOW: This event is presented FREE by the Bay Area Skeptics.
WHY: Because we’re curious creatures.
Previous SkepTalks:
| 14 Dec |
2021 |
The Continuing Relevance of America’s Eugenic Legacy – Paul Lombardo, Ph.D., J.D. |
| 10 Dec |
2020 |
Deepfakes, GANs and Visual Misinformation – Nick Dufour |
| 12 Nov |
2020 |
The Debate about Dark Matter: Is the Matter Settled? – Don Lincoln, Ph.D. |
| 8 Oct |
2020 |
Facilitated Communication: Holding on to (False) Hope – Janyce Boynton |
| 10 Sep |
2020 |
Mad Myths: The Case for Using Persuasion to Promote Critical Thinking – Jay Diamond |
| 13 Feb |
2020 |
Big Data: What it is, how it’s used, where it’s headed – Mike Olson |
| 12 Dec |
2019 |
Are you sure that sippy-cup is safe? – Layla Katiraee |
| 7 Nov |
2019 |
Why Do People Reject Good Science? – Eugenie Scott |
| 10 Oct |
2019 |
Shit Students Say: Chem trails, hollow earths, and other strange ideas – Steven Newton |
| 12 Sep |
2019 |
Successful Skepticism: Creating Lasting Community – Tucker Phelps |
| 9 May |
2019 |
The Bitter M&Ms of Climate Change: Misconceptions and Misinformation – Brad Hoge |
| 11 Apr |
2019 |
The Year in Anti-Science-Education Legislation – Glenn Branch |
| 14 Mar |
2019 |
Australia’s Psychic Detectives and Psychic “Predictions” – Richard Saunders |
| 14 Feb |
2019 |
What Would Darwin Say to Today’s Creationists? – Eugenie Scott |
| 10 Jan |
2019 |
Common Misconceptions About CRISPR Genome Editing – Kevin Doxzen |
| 13 Dec |
2018 |
BAS BAH Fest |
| 8 Nov |
2018 |
A Skeptic’s Guide to Planet Hunting – Josh Lofy |
| 11 Oct |
2018 |
Beyond a Candle in the Dark – Mick West |
| 13 Sep |
2018 |
When a Biology Meets a Biology – David Almandsmith |
| 10 May |
2018 |
Misconceptions in Anthropology – Julie Hui |
| 12 Apr |
2018 |
Skepardy! — Bill Patterson |
| 8 Mar |
2018 |
A Quirky Colloquium Quashing Quantum Quackery — Miriam Diamond |
| 8 Feb |
2018 |
The Human Drive to Explain — Tania Lombrozo |
| 14 Jan |
2018 |
Neuroscience and the Great Questions — Ransom Stephens |
| 14 Dec |
2017 |
Top Ten Myths of Homelessness — Carrie Sager |
| 9 Nov |
2017 |
Myths of Mass Extinctions — Kevin Padian |
| 12 Oct |
2017 |
Hurricanes and Heat Waves: Is This Climate Change? — Brad Hoge |
| 11 May |
2017 |
Beyond the Choir – Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia — Susan Gerbic |
| 13 Apr |
2017 |
An Invisible Plague: the Growing Threat of Tuberculosis — Lauren Popov |
| 9 Feb |
2017 |
Are Saturated Fats Bad for You? Separating Fat from Fiction — Kent McDonald |
| 12 Jan |
2017 |
Harry Houdini vs. Psychics & Mediums — Mark Tarses |
| 29 Dec |
2016 |
Too Good to be True? – Richard Saunders |
| 10 Nov |
2016 |
Myths of Astronomy — Thomas Targett |
| 8 Jan |
2015 |
The Manson Family, Cults, and the Psychology of Commitment – Dr. Patrick O’Reilly |
| 12 Feb |
2015 |
Quantum Pseudoscience and the Nature of Mind — Russel Willcox |
| 9 Apr |
2015 |
Herding Cats and Teaching Science — Dan Pemberton |
| 14 Nov |
2012 |
Climate Change: From the Biotic to the Exotic — Minda Berbeco |
| 10 Oct |
2012 |
Writing About Vaccines When Evidence Doesn’t Matter — Liza Gross |
| 12 Sep |
2012 |
Gay Conversion Therapy: You Make Me Sick — Sheldon Helms |
| 8 Aug |
2012 |
Documentary & Skype — “In God We Teach” |
| 11 Apr |
2012 |
A Skeptical View of Climate Change Skeptics — Mark McCaffrey |
| 12 Oct |
2011 |
A Unicorn in Your Tank: Magic Tablets That Won’t Improve Gas Mileage — Yau-Man Chan |
| 14 Sep |
2011 |
Catastrophes! — Don Prothero |
