RNA Biology

Catalog description

RNA biology is one of the most actively investigated areas of life science today. Sharing properties with both DNA and proteins, RNA molecules can replicate themselves and catalyze biochemical reactions within their functional capacity. Some viruses have their whole genomes made of RNA, but we humans have evolved to use DNA for storing genetic information and inheritance, and proteins for catalytic function. Recently scientists have begun to harness the power of RNA in life science and medicine (e.g. COVID-19 mRNA vaccine). Through this course, we will gain basic knowledge about RNA molecules and how they operate in healthy and diseased cells. We start with how they differ from their peer DNA molecules, and go through their processing, maturation, cytoplasmic export in eukaryotes, regulated degradation, translation, and localization. We will update ourselves with the most recently emerged techniques for RNA investigations, and finally we will touch upon RNA as a new generation of medicine resource.