Understanding evolution: Michael Gillings at TEDxMacquarieUniversity

Michael Gillings is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University. He has research interests that broadly include the mechanisms that generate and maintain genetic diversity, and how such diversity can be used to understand population structure, dispersal and evolution. Current research spans all living things, from bacteria to fungi, to plants, fish and mammals. A major program examines the evolution of mobile DNA in bacteria, with an emphasis on the origins and spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogens. In an offshoot of this research, he is investigating the consequences of DNA pollution and its potential effects on the natural environment. He teaches Human Biology to a class of over 900 undergraduates each year and is consistently voted amongst the top 5 University Lecturers in Australia. Teaching a diverse cohort of students with different backgrounds and interests has led to an abiding enthusiasm for making connections between the Humanities and Sciences, resulting in a fusion of Art, Music, Literature, History and Biology in his teaching material.

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