MEDIA ADVISORY

Seymour Benzer Recounts His "Adventures in Neurogenetics"

WHO:    Seymour Benzer, neurogenetics pioneer

WHAT:  "Adventures in Neurogenetics," a lecture presented by Penn's Mahoney Institute of Neurological Sciences, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, and the Franklin Institute.

WHEN:  4 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, 2004

WHERE: Austrian Auditorium, Clinical Research Building, 415 Curie Blvd.  

Or, see it live via Webcast:  www.med.upenn.edu/ins

Few individuals have had as much impact on modern science as Seymour Benzer, whose five-decade career includes major contributions in physics, biology and neuroscience.  While in Philadelphia to receive the 2004 Franklin Institute Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, Benzer will discuss his influential career at the Mahoney Institute of Neurological Sciences.  

His achievements have greatly influenced research in developmental biology, genetics, ethology and neurobiology and have provided profound insights into human diseases such as Huntington, Parkinson and Alzheimer.  Benzer was the first to recognize the genetic and molecular underpinnings of neural function and behavior.

Benzer continues to lead an active and innovative research group from his lab at the California Institute of Technology.  

The lecture is sponsored in part by Cephalon Inc., Pfizer,Inc. and Wyeth Neuroscience.