Monthly meeting of the University of Cambridge EngBio Postdoc Group. Open to postdocs, students and research staff from across the University and affiliated institutes (MRC-LMB, Babraham Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute).
Join our monthly lunches to meet postdocs from across the University interested in biology, engineering, design, computer science, bioethics and more. This is a great opportunity to meet postdocs from other schools and departments, share knowledge and ideas, establish connections and collaborations, and find out more about EngBio Postdocs activities such as funding calls and support.
Monday 15 May, 12pm-1.30pm at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology - Talks and Tour. REGISTER HERE
Edoardo Gianni, PhD
Title: Engineering a self-replicating RNA machine
Abstract: Current biological systems use an intricate interaction between DNA, RNA, and proteins to achieve self-sustained replication and open-ended evolution. It is not clear how such an apparatus could arise spontaneously at the origins of life, and it is thought to have been preceded by a simpler framework where RNA was acting both as carrier of genetic information and catalyst for replication. It is impossible to look back at how this system worked, but synthetic biology provides us with the tools to build complex RNA machinery from scratch reminiscent of these primordial enzymes. My research focuses on the development of RNA enzymes (i.e. ribozymes) capable of replicating RNA. These ribozymes can copy a variety of RNA sequences, including parts of themselves, and we have used them to drive their own evolution. This talk will focus on the evolution of such ribozymes, their capabilities and the challenges to achieve full self-replication.