Science on Tap?Montshire After Hours

Science on Tap: Montshire After Hours

Beyond Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Lance Armstrong: Building a Better Athlete by “Gene Doping” with Dr. Lee Witters

Thursday, February 2, 2012, 6:30 – 9 pm

Join your friends at the Montshire Museum of Science for our Science on Tap evening events with drinks, casual conversations about contemporary topics in science and society, and open exhibits. Science on Tap – Montshire After Hours events are open to adults 21+ and include short presentations by guest speakers, open exhibits, and a cash bar (wine and beer) provided by the Norwich Inn. Tickets are $10/person (includes one complimentary drink) and are available at the door. The Museum doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the featured scientist speaking at 7 p.m. The Museum remains open following the speaker until 9 p.m.

Dr. Witters is a master storyteller who blends history, science, and medicine together. His research focuses on how cells sense, use, and adjust their available energy; and has far reaching implications in exercise physiology, muscle growth, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and appetite control. A Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Dartmouth Medical School and a Professor of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College, Dr. Witters’ work has focused on a family of genes that dramatically alters muscle metabolism and performance. This finding could someday lead to therapies for muscle diseases, but also raises a number of questions about possible modes of athletic performance enhancement. His talk will focus on the question that IF we wanted to alter genes toward this end, which ones would we choose and what would each of them contribute to the genetically altered athlete?