Frontiers of Science lecture to explore evolution of poisonous plants

Frontiers of Science lecture to explore evolution of poisonous plantsJanuary 29, 2009Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

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.