information for the community

Churchill hosts Genetics Update Conference


DATE: Jan. 26
TIME: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Churchill HS, Auditorium, 12049 Blanco Rd.

Churchill High School will host the Genetics Update Conference on Jan. 26, 2012 in the school's auditorium. The featured guest lecturer is Sam Rhine.

Serving as the guest lecturer for the more than 10 years, Rhine will explain some of the latest advancements in our understanding of DNA, genetics, and applications of those advancements. This year's topics include cancer research, cell differentiation, and other topics related to cell development.

Many of the topics have been introduced to students in Advance Placement (AP) Biology class, but by attending the conference they will be able to connect and apply scientific research to the classroom and to life. One of the newer topics, epigenetics, is the study of how a person's environment and diet can affect the expression of their genes. Epigenetics is now being studied in relation to parental obesity and the development of juvenile diabetes along with its effect on cancer causing genes. Rhine takes biology from the textbook to the heart by posing ethical dilemmas each of us will face as technological advances continue.


Churchill has hosted this nationwide conference for more than 10 years. Rhine is a distinguished lecturer that presents an intense four-hour lecture over the newest information to genetics. He has been the guest speaker at recent national and state level conventions, been honored as the 'Distinguished Hoosier Scholar Award' and has received an 'Honorary Member Award' by the National Association of Biology Teachers.


The conference is geared for the AP biology students and selected outstanding freshman students. When students are asked about their impression of the Genetics Conference, they use adjectives. such as interesting, life-changing and intriguing.

"Perhaps the best accolade for this opportunity is the fact that former students ask to attend the four-hour lecture," said Claire Vollmar, teacher. "Mr. Rhine has an ability to explain cutting edge technology and discoveries in a way for high school students to understand."


For more information visit his Web site at http://www.samrhine.com/conferences/about.asp.

For more information, contact Claire Vollmar at (210) 356-0000

Posted on January 12, 2012

"));