The Spring 2009 Frontiers of Science Lecture Series will begin with "The
Evolutionary History of Poison," presented by Kari A. Segraves, assistant professor of
biology, Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium, located in
Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is
available in the Irving Garage.
Poison has played an important role in the history of humans. While there have been
a number of infamous poisonings with animal venom, such as Cleopatra's death by
snake bite, plant toxins are by far the poison of choice. Hemlock, deadly nightshade
and wolfsbane are plants that have been put to ill use in literary works and in history.
Segraves will discuss a complex web of evolutionary interactions that may explain the
presence of toxic compounds in plants and why some have become extremely
poisonous.
The Frontiers of Science Lecture Series is presented by the Department of Science
Teaching in The College of Arts and Sciences and is co-sponsored by several of the
college's departments, the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science
and several engineering departments, the School of Education, the SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Office of the Dean of
Hendricks Chapel and the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute.
