Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013; 10:45am - 11:45am
Cost: Free and open to the public
Location: Physical Science Building, Room 161

This talk will summarize two topics of my recent research that relate to fabricating DNA nanostructures in vitro and manipulating Oxytricha genome in vivo. Part I: Canonical B-form DNA, being the carrier of genetic information, has recently been used to fabricate a variety of artificial DNA nanostructures and devices, by taking the advantages of DNA’s distinctive fidelity of base pairing and the programmed sequences for designed shapes. In this part, I will talk about using synthetic DNA molecules as building blocks to construct branched DNA motifs, a binary-state nano-mechanical device, and the work to bridge complex DNA nanostructures and cellular DNA replication machineries. Part II: RNA, normally thought of as a conduit in gene expression, has a novel mode of action in ciliated protozoa. In this part, I will talk about applying engineered-RNA (both long and short) mediated pathways to manipulate Oxytricha genome through targeted nucleotide mutations and chromosomal insertions, fusions, and deletions with high fidelity and efficiency. At the end, I will illustrate some of my future research interests that are of benefit to biology and medical research using programmed synthetic DNA and engineered Oxytricha genome.