Bergren Forum - Geoff Lippa
The Bergren Forum, sponsored by the Division of Human Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will be meeting in-person from 12:10 to 1:00 on Thursdays in Nevins Theatre, Powell Campus Center. Bring a brown bag lunch if you wish. Coffee and tea will be provided.Dec 1 Geoff Lippa, “We are living in an “RNA World”: exploring the importance of RNA from evolution to vaccines.
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 will explore our RNA-centered world and a time of great discovery.
For those not able to make it to Nevins, there is a Zoom link, which will be the same each week.
But people who Zoom in will have to make their own tea or coffee.