2008 Press Releases
20.03.2008
"Genes, Microbes, and Food: New Insights and Human Health Implications" is the title of the final lecture of the Faculty of Science Public Lecture Series at UCC on Wednesday, March 26th.
In this lecture, Dr Paul O'Toole will focus on recent advances in understanding the roles of genes, diet and bacteria in human health. He will explain how genes control the way we metabolize foods, and how genes can even ultimately control which foods we choose to eat. An exciting new development is the recognition that the large numbers of bacteria in our intestines have important roles in health and disease, and this research will be summarised with emphasis on obesity and inflammatory bowel disorders.
Paul O'Toole graduated with BA (Mod) Microbiology and PhD from Trinity College Dublin. After research positions in Sweden and Canada exploring bacterial pathogens, he moved to Massey University, New Zealand in 1995, where he became interested in non-pathogenic gut bacteria. He moved to University College Cork in 2002 where he is now a Senior Lecturer in Genetics, in the Department of Microbiology. He leads the Lactobacillus genome sequencing program at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, and he co-ordinates the ELDERMET project, a metagenomics analysis of gut bacteria in the elderly.
The final lecture takes place at UCC's Boole Lecture Theatre 4 at 8pm on Wednesday, March 26th. The highly popular lecture series was organised by Professor William Reville, Public Awareness of Science Officer, Faculty of Science, UCC. Admission is free, and as always, members of the public are invited to attend. See http://understandingscience.ucc.ie
Picture: Dr Paul O'Toole
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