Science Café: We are our proteins

In this edition of the Science Café, you will explore  the evolution of proteins with Professor Marcellus Ubbink, Professor of Protein Chemistry at the Leiden Institute of Chemical Research. Using DNA found in various fossils, ranging from a hundred to hundreds of millions of years old, ancient and modern proteins can be compared to gain insights into how this fascinating substance has evolved over the decades.

You see them everywhere in the supermarket. Protein bars, quark and yoghurt, protein powder, and of course, plain old eggs. Proteins play an important role in our diet.  Have you ever wondered what proteins actually are? What are the different types of proteins, and what do those thousands of different types do in our bodies? How are new proteins created, and what does that have to do with evolution? These questions and many more will be discussed during this Science Café.

Every edition of the Science Café features live music, providing a platform for up-and-coming musical talent and enhancing the evening’s informal, welcoming atmosphere. This time, the young band Stoofpeer will be playing some great rock-pop and Britpop tracks by artists including Oasis, The Cranberries and Radiohead.

Admission is free, and the lecture will be held in Dutch.