From DNA to neuroscience via evolutionary biology: The life and times of Francis Crick

Markus Library Book Talk

Matthew Cobb, Ph.D. • Professor Emeritus, University of Manchester

Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, 3:00 PM

Markus Library Main Reading Room

Reception with light refreshments to follow

Matthew Cobb is Professor Emeritus at the University of Manchester, UK. His research career was primarily focused on the neurobiology of olfaction, in particular in Drosophila larvae, but he also studied human and Neanderthal olfaction as well as the behaviour of flies and ants. Over the last twenty years he has also worked as an historian of science, writing mainly about seventeenth and twentieth century biology. This has led to a series of articles and books, including Life’s Greatest Secret (2015) and The Idea of the Brain (2020), a well as his recent biography of Francis Crick. He has received a number of awards and medals for his historical and public engagement work, including from the Genetics Society UK and the Royal Society.

Francis Crick was one of the most important scientists of the twentieth century, shaping how we think about life and the brain. As well as his well-known contributions to molecular genetics, he also played an important role in the development of neuroscience. My talk will explain how he was able to play such a significant role in two very different fields, by exploring his character and his method of working, particularly his unique collaborative approach. It will reveal aspects of his personality and work that will surprise and even inspire you.