# Past John M. Prather Lectures ## expand\_more SortDateLecturerApril 2, 2025 [Feng Zhang](https://www.zlab.bio/) James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT *Copy-Paste: An Exploration of Retrotransposons and Their Functions in Microbes and man* April 3, 2025 [Feng Zhang](https://www.zlab.bio/) James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT *Programmable Nucleic Acid Recognition* April 4, 2025 [Feng Zhang](https://www.zlab.bio/) James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT *Engineering Physiology* May 1, 2024 [Molly F. Przeworski](https://systemsbiology.columbia.edu/faculty/molly-przeworski/pmg-people) Alan H. Kempner Professor of Biological Sciences and Systems Biology, Columbia University *The best laid plans of mice, men, birds and snakes: an evolutionary perspective on recombination* May 2, 2024 [Molly F. Przeworski](https://systemsbiology.columbia.edu/faculty/molly-przeworski/pmg-people) Alan H. Kempner Professor of Biological Sciences and Systems Biology, Columbia University *Reading genetic tea leaves: Promises and pitfalls of genomic trait prediction* May 3, 2024 [Molly F. Przeworski](https://systemsbiology.columbia.edu/faculty/molly-przeworski/pmg-people) Alan H. Kempner Professor of Biological Sciences and Systems Biology, Columbia University *Why do human germline mutation rates depend on sex and age?* April 12, 2023 [Thomas Südhof](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/thomas-sudhof-to-give-2023-john-m-prather-lectures-april-12-13-and-14/) Avram Goldstein Professor Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Physiology and of Neurosurgery; Professor, Dept. of Neurology & Neurological Sciences and of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science *Towards a Neuronal Cell Biology of Alzheimer's Disease* April 13, 2023 [Thomas Südhof](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/thomas-sudhof-to-give-2023-john-m-prather-lectures-april-12-13-and-14/) Avram Goldstein Professor Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Physiology and of Neurosurgery; Professor, Dept. of Neurology & Neurological Sciences and of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science *Neurexins: Master Switches of Synapse Organization* April 14, 2023 [Thomas Südhof](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/thomas-sudhof-to-give-2023-john-m-prather-lectures-april-12-13-and-14/) Avram Goldstein Professor Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Physiology and of Neurosurgery; Professor, Dept. of Neurology & Neurological Sciences and of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science *Adhesion-GPCRs in Synapse Formation* November 12, 2019 [Dr. Harmit S. Malik](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/harmit-malik-give-2019-prather-lectures-november-12-13-14/) Principal Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Center Research Center (FHCRC); Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, University of Washington; Co-Associate Director, Basic Sciences, FHCRC *Rules of Engagement: Molecuar Arms Races Between Host and Viral Genomes* November 13, 2019 [Dr. Harmit S. Malik](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/harmit-malik-give-2019-prather-lectures-november-12-13-14/) Principal Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Center Research Center (FHCRC); Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, University of Washington; Co-Associate Director, Basic Sciences, FHCRC *Paleovirology: Ghosts and Gifts of Ancient Viruses* November 14, 2019 [Dr. Harmit S. Malik](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/news/harmit-malik-give-2019-prather-lectures-november-12-13-14/) Principal Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Center Research Center (FHCRC); Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Professor, University of Washington; Co-Associate Director, Basic Sciences, FHCRC *Genetic Conflicts During Meiosis Shape Centomeres and Species* May 17, 2018 [Dr. Jennifer Doudna](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/research/jennifer-doudna-give-2018-prather-lectures-may-15-16-17/) Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics Institute *DNA Integration and Detection by CRISPR-Cas RNA-Guided Proteins* May 16, 2018 [Dr. Jennifer Doudna](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/research/jennifer-doudna-give-2018-prather-lectures-may-15-16-17/) Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics Institute *The CRISPR-Cas Toolbox for Genome Editing* May 15, 2018 [Dr. Jennifer Doudna](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/research/jennifer-doudna-give-2018-prather-lectures-may-15-16-17/) Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics Institute *CRISPR-Cas Gene Editing: Biology, Technology and Ethics* March 3, 2017 [Dr. Bonnie L. Bassler](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/research/bonnie-bassler-give-2017-prather-lectures-march-1-2-3/) Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology, Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University *How Bacteria Tell Self from Other* March 2, 2017 [Dr. Bonnie L. Bassler](https://hmnh.harvard.edu/event/tiny-conspiracies-cell-cell-communication-bacteria) Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology, Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University *Tiny Conspiracies: Cell-to-Cell Communication in Bacteria* March 1, 2017 [Dr. Bonnie L. Bassler](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/research/bonnie-bassler-give-2017-prather-lectures-march-1-2-3/) Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology, Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University *Bacterial Quorum Sensing and Its Control* February 8, 2016 [The Honorable Dr. Jane Lubchenco ](https://hmnh.harvard.edu/event/doom-and-gloom-hope-innovations-ocean-science-and-policy) Oregon State University, Dept. of State's First U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean *From Doom and Gloom to Hope: Innovations in Ocean Science and Policy* February 9, 2016 [The Honorable Dr. Jane Lubchenco ](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3783/jane-lubchenco-to-give-2015-prather-lectures-canceled/) Oregon State University, Dept. of State's First U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean *The Public Choices You Make: From Engagement to Advocacy* March 30, 2014 **\*\*CANCELLED\*\*** [The Honorable Dr. Jane Lubchenco ](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3783/jane-lubchenco-to-give-2015-prather-lectures-canceled/) Oregon State University, Dept. of State's First U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean *Science in Policy and Politics* March 31, 2014 **\*\*CANCELLED\*\*** [The Honorable Dr. Jane Lubchenco ](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3783/jane-lubchenco-to-give-2015-prather-lectures-canceled/) Oregon State University, Dept. of State's First U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean *Delivering on Science's Social Contract: Innovations in Ocean Practices and Policies Provide Hope for the Future* October 29, 2014 [Jeffrey I Gordon](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3761/jeffrey-i-gordon-to-give-2014-prather-lectures-october-29-31/) Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine *The Human Gut Microbiota and Childhood Undernutrition: Looking at Human Development from a Microbial Perspective* October 30, 2014 [Jeffrey I Gordon](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3761/jeffrey-i-gordon-to-give-2014-prather-lectures-october-29-31/) Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine *Our Gut Microbiomes and Obesity: Establishing Causal Relationships (and Remember Robert Koch)* October 31, 2014 [Jeffrey I Gordon](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3761/jeffrey-i-gordon-to-give-2014-prather-lectures-october-29-31/) Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine *Translating Human Microbiome Research to Achieve Healthier Societies: The Nexus of Food, Agriculture and Nutrition* April 24, 2013 [Eric Lander](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3668/eric-lander-to-give-2013-prather-lectures-april-24-26/) Founding Director, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Biology, MIT *Secrets of the Human Genome* April 25, 2013 [Eric Lander](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3668/eric-lander-to-give-2013-prather-lectures-april-24-26/) Founding Director, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Biology, MIT *Understanding the Human Genome: Progress and Prospects (Part 1)* April 25, 2013 [Eric Lander](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3668/eric-lander-to-give-2013-prather-lectures-april-24-26/) Founding Director, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Biology, MIT *Understanding the Human Genome: Progress and Prospects (Part 2)* April 26, 2012 [Svante Pääbo](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3558/svante-p228228bo-to-give-2012-prather-lectures-april-26-27-28-2012/) Director, Department of Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology *Archaic Genomics* April 27, 2012 [Svante Pääbo](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3558/svante-p228228bo-to-give-2012-prather-lectures-april-26-27-28-2012/) Director, Department of Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology *Functional Analyses of a Gene Involved in Speech and Language* April 28, 2012 [Svante Pääbo](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3558/svante-p228228bo-to-give-2012-prather-lectures-april-26-27-28-2012/) Director, Department of Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology *Human Origins from a DNA Perspective* March 29, 2011 [Cori Bargmann](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3597/cori-bargmann-to-give-prather-lectures-march-29-30-31/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University *Unraveling Relationships between Genes and Behavior* March 30, 2011 [Cori Bargmann](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3597/cori-bargmann-to-give-prather-lectures-march-29-30-31/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University *Fifty Years of Solitude: Genetic Variation in Foraging Behavior* March 31, 2011 [Cori Bargmann](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3597/cori-bargmann-to-give-prather-lectures-march-29-30-31/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University *The Invisible Wiring Diagram: Using Fixed Circuits to Generate Flexible Behaviors* April 5, 2010 [Edward O. Wilson](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3615/edward-o-wilson-to-give-prather-lectures-april-5-6-7/) Professor Emeritus and Honorary Curator in Entomology, Harvard University *Biodiversity and the Future of Biology* April 6, 2010 [Edward O. Wilson](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3615/edward-o-wilson-to-give-prather-lectures-april-5-6-7/) Professor Emeritus and Honorary Curator in Entomology, Harvard University *The Superorganism* April 7, 2010 [Edward O. Wilson](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3615/edward-o-wilson-to-give-prather-lectures-april-5-6-7/) Professor Emeritus and Honorary Curator in Entomology, Harvard University *Consilience* May 8 2009 [J. Craig Venter](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3516/j-craig-venter-to-give-prather-lectures-may-8/) Founder, Chairman and President, J. Craig Venter Institute *A Genomic View of the World* May 8, 2009 [J. Craig Venter](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3516/j-craig-venter-to-give-prather-lectures-may-8/) Founder, Chairman and President, J. Craig Venter Institute *Synthetic Life* May 7, 2008 [Huda Y. Zoghbi](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3479/huda-zoghbi-to-give-prather-lectures-may-789/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine *Rett Syndrome: Insight into an Autism Spectrum Disorder* May 8, 2008 [Huda Y. Zoghbi](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3479/huda-zoghbi-to-give-prather-lectures-may-789/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine *Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1: Complex Balance* May 9, 2008 [Huda Y. Zoghbi](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3479/huda-zoghbi-to-give-prather-lectures-may-789/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine *Math and the Evolution of Hearing and Balance* May 23, 2007 [David Kingsley](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3434/david-kingsley-to-give-prather-lectures-may-23-24-25/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Standford University School of Medicine *Selection in Action: From Dogs to Humans* May 24, 2007 [David Kingsley](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3434/david-kingsley-to-give-prather-lectures-may-23-24-25/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Standford University School of Medicine *How is Anatomy Encoded in the Genome?* May 25, 2007 [David Kingsley](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3434/david-kingsley-to-give-prather-lectures-may-23-24-25/) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Standford University School of Medicine *Fishing for the Secrets of Vertebrate Evolution* March 8, 2006 Jared Diamond Departments of Geography and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles *Continental Differences in Human History* March 9, 2006 Jared Diamond Departments of Geography and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles *Problem-solving by Human Societies* March 10, 2006 Jared Diamond Departments of Geography and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles April 21, 2004 [Thomas Jessell](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3316/thomas-jessell-to-give-prather-lectures-april-21-22-23/) Columbia University Medical Center *Gradients, Transcriptional Codes, and Neuronal Diversity* April 22, 2004 [Thomas Jessell](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3316/thomas-jessell-to-give-prather-lectures-april-21-22-23/) Columbia University Medical Center *A Deterministic View of Neural Circuit Assembly in the Developing Brain* April 23, 2004 [Thomas Jessell](https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3316/thomas-jessell-to-give-prather-lectures-april-21-22-23/) Columbia University Medical Center *Directing Stem Cell Differentiation: Insights from Neural Development*