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Apologies for cross posting Invited Lecture to be delivered on Monday, 5th November, 2001, at 5.30 p.m., at the British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London, W.1, in Celebration of the Centenary of the British Psychological Society. Elementary, my dear Watson, the clue is in the genesS.or is it? Annette Karmiloff-Smith, FBA, FMedSci, MAE, CPsychol. Neurocognitive Development Unit, Institute of Child Health, UCLondon John Watson's contribution to the discovery of the structure of DNA in the 1950s and to the sequencing of the human genome half a century later cannot fail to excite all those fascinated by human development. Yet, as we learn more about genes and the human brain, there is a temptation to seek one-to-one relationships between complex behaviours like altruism, aggression, intelligence or language, on the one hand, and specific genes and/or specific locations in the brain, on the other. In a series of popular books, Steven Pinker has repeatedly supported such assumptions by using data from adult neuropsychology and genetic disorders. In this lecture, I will argue that the interpretation of such data is flawed, because it is based on a static model of the human brain, ignoring the complexities of gene expression and the dynamics of postnatal development. I will illustrate this through my studies of infants, children and adults with the genetic disorder, Williams syndrome. Understanding the complex pathways from gene-to-brain-to-cognitive processes-to-behaviour is like a Sherlock Holmes and Watson detective story, in which tiny, seemingly unimportant clues early in development play a vital role in the final outcome. All those interested are welcome to attend, but because of limited space it is essential to register in advance. Please see the Academy website for full programme and registration forms: http://www.britac.ac.uk/events/index.html. Telephone enquiries: 020 7969 5264; Email: [log in to unmask] *********************************************************************** Angela Pusey Assistant Secretary Lectures and Symposia The British Academy 10 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AH Tel: 020 7969 5264 Fax: 020 7969 5414 Email: [log in to unmask] Web site: www.britac.ac.uk