THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA and THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA INVITE YOU TO A LECTURE BY:

Professor Douglas Rawlings FRSSAf

Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University

entitled ‘The Origin of Life’

‘How life began, is one of the great mysteries of science.   Although many theories and speculations exist, the true story is likely to remain elusive and unverifiable.  Life is characterized by at least three properties, the ability to reproduce, the ability to adapt and repair itself and the necessity for an energy source.  Early life is likely to have gone through a period of dramatic adaptation while those life forms that used the most efficient metabolic and genetic processes were being selected.  The earth has always been in the ‘age of bacteria’, and although larger and more complex life forms dominate the earth visually, the greatest numbers and metabolic diversity of life is still to be found amongst the bacteria.’

 Date:     Wednesday, March 17 2010

Time:    17:15 (Tea will be served from 16:30) Note the later time.

Place:   South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Auditorium, Observatory Road, Observatory*

 *Directions to SAAO Auditorium : Coming from the N2,turn off to the M57 – Liesbeek Parkway; turning in the direction of Cape Town and continue to the traffic lights with Hartleyvale (hockey and football) on your left. Turn right at traffic lights into Observatory Road, pass the River Club; the S A Astronomical Observatory is next on the left. Once through the security gates bear left following the SALT signs to the last building on the left (white with stoep & ramp).

 ALL WELCOME, INCLUDING NON MEMBERS 

 For further information phone 021 650 2543 ; Email: royalsociety@uct.ac.za

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