Dec. 1 Bergren Forum to examine RNA, its role in modern healthcare
The Dec. 1 Bergren Forum will be delivered by Geoff Lippa, assistant professor of Biology at Alfred University. Lippa’s lecture, “We are living in an “RNA World”: exploring the importance of RNA from evolution to vaccines,” will examine RNA and its role in modern healthcare.
He writes: What is RNA, or ribonucleic acid? What is its function? How is it different from DNA? Which nucleic acid came first, DNA or RNA? These are the start of many questions scientists have been asking about RNA since the discovery of nucleic acids in 1868 by Friedrich Miescher. Since 2010, 30 scientists have been awarded Nobel Prizes for experimental work that includes studies of RNA. In 2020 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna for their work on CRISPR-Cas9 (a method to edit DNA). Today we have RNA-based treatments for muscular dystrophy, macular degeneration, and COVID-19. Geoff Lippa, Asst. Prof. of Biology, will explore our RNA-centered world and a time of great discovery.
The Bergren Forum is sponsored by the Division of Human Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and will be held in-person from 12:10-1 pm on Thursdays in Nevins Theatre, Powell Campus Center. Attendees are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. For those not able to make it to Nevins, there is a Zoom link, which will be the same each week. Please contact Marilyn Saxton for the Zoom link.