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SUMMARY:The Cancer Paradox: Investigations into the somatic mutation rate 
 across mammals - Dr Alex Cagan\, Wellcome Sanger Institute
DTSTART:20201021T150000Z
DTEND:20201021T160000Z
UID:TALK150955@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:Organisms accumulate mutations in somatic cells throughout the
 ir lifetime. This process can lead to cancer and may contribute to aging. 
 Advances in genome sequencing have enabled us to study how mutations accum
 ulate in human tissues with age. However\, we know almost nothing about ho
 w mutations accumulate in other species. A better understanding of these p
 rocesses in other species could help resolve long-standing biological myst
 eries. For example\, species with larger body-sizes and longer lifespans s
 hould have a higher incidence of cancer\, yet no such correlation exists. 
 This is known as ‘Peto’s Paradox’. Additionally\, species age at rem
 arkably different rates yet the underlying mechanisms behind these differe
 nces remain unclear. Changes in the rate at which species acquire mutation
 s as they age could contribute to both processes. To address these questio
 ns\, we combine laser-capture microscopy of colonic crypts with whole geno
 me sequencing to quantity and compare mutation rates across mammalian spec
 ies. Analysing these data in combination with lifespan data records provid
 es insights into the evolution of the mutation rate across species with im
 plications for our understanding of cancer and ageing across species.\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 2\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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