Dr Anthony Poole (works on the evolution of DNA and the origin of life. He been a Monbusho Scholar at the University of Tokyo and a Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Research Fellow at Stockholm University. He is now based at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and usually falters if you ask him about his own origins www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz About TEDxTalks: In thespirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)