Professor Keith Kozminski explains the cellular mechanisms of light interaction, detailing the process of photosynthesis in plant chloroplasts and the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. He then transitions to discussing photoreception in the human eye, describing the structure of the retina and the function of rod and cone cells. The lecture emphasizes the importance of light in biological processes and the complex molecular interactions involved in light sensing and energy conversion.

This lecture was given on July 20th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies.

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About the Speaker:

Keith Kozminski is an Associate Professor of Biology and Cell Biology at the University of Virginia, where he studies polarized cell growth, in particular the role of lipid transfer proteins in intracellular membrane trafficking and secretion.  In addition, he conducts research in the field of synthetic biology, as applied to health and environmental sustainability.  He leads the Mid-Atlantic Synthetic Biology Network comprised of academic, private sector, and government researchers from Georgia to Delaware, in addition to being the senior Features editor of Molecular Biology of the Cell, the research journal of the American Society of Cell Biology. He also co-founded the biotech company Ourobio in 2020.

Dr. Kozminski holds a PhD in Biology (cell biology) from Yale University and completed his post-doctoral training in molecular genetics at UC-Berkeley.  He has undergraduate degrees in Biology and History from SUNY-Buffalo.