EUGENE, Ore. -- (April 27, 2011) -- Ethical and moral considerations of the human genome will take center stage when the three-part, public lecture series "The Individual in the Genomic Era" resumes on Tuesday, May 3, at the University of Oregon.

Guest speaker will be Lee Silver, professor of molecular biology at Princeton University. His most recent book, "Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and Spirituality at the New Frontiers of Life," offered a provocative look at the collision of science, religion, pseudoscience and politics. Silver teaches courses on genetics and biotechnology.

Silver's talk, which begins at 7 p.m. in 150 Columbia Hall, 1215 E. 13th Ave, is titled "Ethics and the Genome." The public is invited. The series' initial lecture, given by UO biologist William Cresko, drew more than 240 people.

Cresko's talk launched a biennial public lecture series designed to address cutting-edge issues related to biotechnological advances. The series was organized by the Graduate Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Students, a graduate student organization in the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

The lectures are designed to stimulate interest in genome science and provide critical-thinking tools. The final lecture on May 23 -- same time and location -- will feature Carlos Bustamante, professor of genetics at Stanford University, who will speak on "Genome-wide Associations."

Support for lecture series is provided by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, College of Arts and Sciences, Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Oregon Humanities Center's Endowment for Public Outreach in the Arts, Sciences and Humanities.

Media Contact: Jim Barlow, director of science and research communications, 541-346-3481, jebarlow@uoregon.edu

Sources: Bryn Gaertner, lead organizer, graduate student in biology, 541-346-0519, bgaertne@uoregon.edu ; Paul Cziko, president, Graduate Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Students, (cell) 217-819-7976, pcziko@uoregon.edu