Getting under the skin: Genes, environment and our health

Our Essex in London series is back, and we're bringing two of Essex's top academics to the capital to talk about their research in regards to Biosocial Research and genomes in society.

The world around us can affect our health. Where we live, how we grow up and how stressful our lives are.

We also know that genes that are inherited from our parents can influence our health and lives, and in turn the environments in which we live can alter the way in which our genes operate.

Come and hear how our researchers are breaking new ground, working to answer fundamental questions about nurture and nature and to understand how different factors influence life chances.

We’re excited to welcome you to an evening of learning and discussion with Essex academics, Dr Cara Booker and Professor Leo Schalkwyk.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session where you can explore the subjects further with our academics, chaired by Emily Grundy, Director of ISER.

More information about the academics:
Biomarkers are measurable indicators of the functioning of different systems within our bodies. They can tell us whether individuals are ill or may be at risk for becoming ill before they even experience any symptoms. In this talk Cara will discuss some possible implications of work stress and how different biological pathways may help to explain those differences.

Epigenetics:  The memories of a human cell.  Professor Schalkwyk's research is on the question of how the body's hundreds of cell types, tens of trillions of cells in all, each carry out their own specific functions from the same DNA template.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session led by our Chair, Professor Emily Grundy, Director of ISER.