Mayer Theater
Santa Clara University
January 16, 2008


No picture available.

Audio of the lecture (mp3)


Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellow, and John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University, gave a lecture on the "Biology of Individuality," very similar to a lecture he gave at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco in March 2006. Ranging widely from Drosophila to baboons, Sapolsky explored what makes us unique in the animal kingdom. His stories, recounting of fascinating experiments, anecdotes, and observations were thought provoking, humorous, and enlightening. The high point for Mr. Hammack occurred when Dr. Sapolsky recounted the story of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and the discovery of prions- it turned out to be essentially a short summary of a lecture Mr. Hammack had given about a week previous to this lecture. Consequently, the students could understand everything Dr. Sapolsky was saying! Because it was the middle of finals week only few students were able to attend: Sara Silberstein, Dr. Silberstein, Eric Odell, and Jessica Osterhout.