Main content

The Origin and Future of Life

Jonathan Freedland talks to Adam Rutherford, Barbara Sahakian, Steve Jones and Susan Aldworth about life, decision-making and our sense of self.

On Start the Week Jonathan Freedland journeys from the origin of life to the possibilities of new life-forms with the geneticist Adam Rutherford. Steve Jones updates the Bible from the point of view of modern science and Barbara Sahakian looks at our ability to make decisions, and whether 'smart drugs' should be used to boost our reactions. The artist Susan Aldworth is inspired by neuro-scientific imagery to explore the relationship between mind and body in her portraits of those with epilepsy and in doing so asks how this material corresponds or contrasts with the subject's sense of self.

Producer: Natalia Fernandez.

Download

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Mon 15 Apr 2013 21:30
BBC Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

'Home' and cultural identity with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Next

Bernardo Bertolucci

See all episodes from Start the Week

Steve Jones

Steve Jones is Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College London and the president of the Galton Institute.

 

The Serpent’s Promise: The Bible Retold as Science is published by Little, Brown.

 

The Serpent's Promise

Adam Rutherford

Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, writer and broadcaster.

 

Creation: The Origin of Life / The Future of Life is published by Viking.

 

Adam Rutherford

Barbara Sahakian

Barbara Sahakian is a neuroscientist.

 

Bad Moves: How Decision Making Goes Wrong and the Ethics of Smart Drugs, co-written with Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta, is published by Oxford University Press.

 

Barbara Sahakian

Susan Aldworth

Susan Aldworth is an artist.

 

Susan Aldworth: The Portrait Anatomised is on display at the National Portrait Gallery, London until 1 September.

 

Susan Aldworth

Susan Aldworth: The Portrait Anatomised

Susan Aldworth: The Portrait Anatomised

Susan Aldworth, Fiona, 2012, monotype installation

Image courtesy of the artist and

G V Art, London

Credits

Presenter Jonathan Freedland
Presenter Jonathan Freedland
Producer Natalia Fernandez
Producer Natalia Fernandez
Producer Katy Hickman
Producer Katy Hickman
Interviewed Guest Steve Jones

Broadcasts

  • Mon 15 Apr 2013 09:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 15 Apr 2013 21:30
    BBC Radio 4

Podcast

  • Start the Week

    Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday