A series of six lectures on the multifaceted beginnings and development of human life begins tonight.

Roy Parker, a molecular and cellular biology professor, will speak on “”Life’s Defining Edges: The Origins of Life”” at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall.

“”One of the biggest mysteries of biology is where life came from,”” Parker said. “”My lecture is not technical. It is a general lecture that anyone should understand.””

The series of lectures will run each Wednesday. Co-sponsored by the College of Engineering, they explore perspectives that include biology, medicine, technology and philosophy.

The remaining lectures are listed below. More information can be found at cos.arizona.edu/edges.

Jan. 30: Life’s Extreme Edge: The Limits of Organic Life on Earth and Other Planets

Feb. 6: Life’s Final Edge: The Origin and Extinction of Species in a Human-Dominated Earth

Feb. 13: Life’s Cognitive Edge: The Role of the Mind and What It Means to be Human

Feb. 20: Life’s Human Edge: Changing Perspectives on the End of Life

March 5: Life’s Technological Edge: The Singularity is Near – When Humans Transcend Biology

– Ashley Waggoner