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SUMMARY:Reprogramming the Genetic Code (joint event with BioSoc) - Dr Jaso
 n Chin
DTSTART:20120308T190000Z
DTEND:20120308T200000Z
UID:TALK35756@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:James Scott-Brown
DESCRIPTION:The information for synthesizing the molecules that allow orga
 nisms to survive and replicate is encoded in genomic DNA. In the cell\, DN
 A is copied to messenger RNA\, and triplet codons (64) in the messenger RN
 A are decoded - in the process of translation - to synthesize polymers of 
 the natural 20 amino acids. This process (DNA RNA protein) describes the c
 entral dogma of molecular biology and is conserved in terrestrial life. We
  are interested in re-writing the central dogma to create organisms that s
 ynthesize proteins containing unnatural amino acids and polymers composed 
 of monomer building blocks beyond the 20 natural amino acids.\n\nI will di
 scuss our invention and synthetic evolution of new 'orthogonal' translatio
 nal components (including ribosomes and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) to add
 ress the major challenges in re-writing the central dogma of biology. I wi
 ll discuss the application of the approaches we have developed for incorpo
 rating unnatural amino acids into proteins and investigating and synthetic
 ally controlling diverse biological processes\, with a particular emphasis
  on understanding the role of post-translational modifications.
LOCATION:Pharmacology Lecture Theatre
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