Alfonso Martinez Arias live: Genetics is not that simple
The Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) professor and researcher at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra Department of Systems Engineering will be unravelling the intricacies of cells and presenting his new book, «A Célula, grande construtora da vida» (Cells – the building blocks of life) at this live event in Lisbon.
The event is organised by Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, in partnership with the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) and with the support of the University of Lisbon Health Network.
Admittance is free, but places must be booked in advance.
In this special live episode of “It’s not that simple”, biologist Alfonso Martinez Arias, a professor and researcher in the Department of Systems Bioengineering at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, will be unravelling the intricacies of cells.
The starting point is a central issue: what really defines who we are?
In the opinion of Martinez Arias, DNA only tells part of the story. There is a network of cells at the core of life and they communicate, cooperate and organise themselves to build entire organisms.
In an interview with journalist Pedro Pinto, the biologist will reveal his opinion on the impacts of how we understand illness and ageing and to what extent we are the product of our DNA as opposed to products of cell interactions. He will also be analysing the ethical and philosophical implications of this outlook.
The interview will be followed by the presentation of his latest book, «A Célula, grande construtora da vida» (Cells – the building blocks of life), published in Portugal by Temas e Debates.
In a conversation with Leonor Saúde, a developmental biologist and researcher at GIMM, moderated by Sara Sá, a science communicator at GIMM, Alfonso Martinez Arias will invite listeners to rethink the very essence of life, showing how we are made up of a living symphony of cells that are constantly moving, working together and changing.
Cells are therefore believed to be the true shapers of life.
Main Hall at the Rector’s Office in the University of Lisbon
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos
Maria Manuel Mota, chair of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM)
Alfonso Martínez Arias, biologist and professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)
Pedro Pinto, journalist
Guilhermina Gomes, editorial director at Temas e Debates
Alfonso Martínez Arias, author
Leonor Saúde, scientist and professor, GIMM/FLUL
Sara Sá, science communicator and content curator