Royal Society: Pathogens and the power of evolution

Basingstoke Science Cafe subscribers are invited to enjoy this in-person and livestream science talk from the Royal Society in London. Meet world-leading researchers from universities and science institutions across the UK at the Royal Society’s public events of cutting-edge science. Tonight's lecture is **"Francis Crick Prize Lecture: Pathogens and the power of evolution".** The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2026 is awarded to **Professor Kayla King** for contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology and genetics of infectious disease. **This livestream event is free to join and requires prior registration with the Royal Society at the web address below.** **[https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/10/francis-crick-prize-lecture/](https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/10/francis-crick-prize-lecture/)** **SUMMARY** Why are some infections more harmful than others? Pathogens can have huge potential to evolve higher (or lower) virulence over short periods of time. In this lecture, Professor Kayla King will explore the rapid evolution of pathogens across the tree of life. Drawing on evolutionary theory, genome sequencing, and selection experiments in which bacterial and viral pathogens are passaged in the lab, she will reveal what drives these evolutionary changes in virulence, as well as the consequences for pathogen genomes and host health.