Presented by John Maddox
How can we find out more about the molecular basis of evolution? PROFESSOR ALLAN WILSON from the Department of Biochemistry, University of California, has developed an immunochemical method enabling him to compare proteins from different species to estimate their genetic difference or similarity - and has come up with surprising results. However, the techniques he uses and the conclusions he draws have been disputed, and he discusses these with one of his critics, PROFESSOR WALTER BODMER , PrOfessor of Genetics at the University of Oxford. Editor THELMA RUMSEY