Darwin Day, a world-wide commemoration of the birth of the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin in 1809, was celebrated locally at a program held at the Alexandria Museum of Art Thursday, February 13. The theme of the program was “Evolution and Medicine”. Dr. Christof Stumpf, Dr. Chyerl Bardales and Ms. Elizabeth Parks of LSU-A’s Biology Department were joined by Dr. David Holcomb, medical director of Community Healthworx. Each scientist gave a presentation on different aspects of how the practice of Medicine is affected by evolution as microbes evolve to “outwit” our efforts to eradicate them..

Everything from traces of anti-biotics in sewage to bacteria swapping genes and the arrival of drug resistant bacteria show the interplay between the microbial world and the efforts of doctors and scientists to fight disease. The speakers did an excellent job of explaining ofttimes complicated concepts to a general audience.