Noted population geneticist Spencer Wells will be speaking on the phylogeny of Homo sapiens on Thursday 1-18-2007. The talk is part of the National Geographic Live! lecture series, and will be at the Pantages Theatre at 7:30 PM.

Wellsâ?? research uses molecular genetic markers to trace the migration, dispersal and evolution of humans from a single common ancestor in Africa. Iâ??ve read some of his work and seen a NOVA special about his project; this should be a very cool talk.

If any of you fellow science nerds are interested, drop me a PM. I will be departing UofM St Paul campus by bicycle at about 7PM.

I saw a similar show maybe it was the same one, but they were actually able to find a living person who shares the genetic marker. that kind of blew me away

how long do you anticipate the lecture being?

Yeah, that's the same show. They can find that exact gene â??cause they used a marker on the male Y chromosome which is unable to recombine. Fuckin genius.

The talk will probably be about an hour. There is also a book signing afterward, but I donâ??t think Iâ??ll stay for that.

The only problem is that tickets are a little spendy, especially if youâ??re not a student. It is seventeen bucks with a student ID (my staff ID worked), or twenty-seven bucks without, and those are the cheap seats. But, Iâ??d consider it a worthy expense. Researchers like Wells depend, in-part, on book royalties and the lecture circuit to make a living. This guy is doing some very kickass research and I donâ??t mind throwing down to see him speak, and to support his cause.