What is the actual difference between humans and animals? An engaging evening where experts explore humanity's genetic kinship with the animal kingdom. We share not just ancestors with primates — in many ways we remain surprisingly similar, from genes and biological mechanisms to the diseases that affect us.
The evening sheds light on how animals can tell us something vital about our own bodies and health. Abdi Hedayat, curator at Medicinsk Museion, presents both zoological and human specimens showing diseases affecting both humans and animals — from a dinosaur with a toothache to modern examples. Lecturer Pia Rengtved Lundegaard from the University of Copenhagen discusses a surprising case: the zebrafish, which shares up to 80% genetic material with humans. She researches heart diseases and uses this small, colorful fish to understand the genetic factors that affect heart function in humans.
This is part of the autumn Evening Consultation series on what animals teach us about the body, health, and medicine. After the lecture, you are invited to a glass of sparkling wine, and the museum's exhibitions are open until 9 p.m.
