06/06/2018

FONDATION MAISON DU BRÉSIL
XXXVII Cycle de Conférences

06 Juin 2018 – Théâtre Lúcio Costa –   20h30

ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING: THE NEXT HOMO SAPIENS BATTLE AGAINST NATURAL SELECTION

Gabriel  Eduardo  de  MATOS  RODRIGUES   –  PhD  student  in  Oncology (Institute Gustave Roussy) and Morphology (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Double degree. Scholarship – La Ligue Contre Le Cancer.

A timeless question in biology is how the genome translates into phenotypes giving rise to the endless forms of nature. It dates back to the  first  evidences  that  genes  encode  individual  proteins  and  the seminal  discovery  of  DNA’s  three  dimensional  structure  (Beadle  and Tatum 1941, Watson and Crick 1953). Important further achievements in this field were possible after the generation of targeted DNA editing technics. By introducing, replacing or deleting genomic information in a  targeted  manner,  we  have  started  to  understand  the  molecular mechanisms  of  how  genomes  govern  form  and  function.  These technologies  have  been  helping  us  understand  and  treat  diseases. During the past few years, the discovery of engineered nucleases, such
as CRISPR-Cas9, made genome editing easier, heating the discussions about the ethics of genetic selection and edition in humans. Here, I will summarize  the  new  technologies  of  genome  editing,  highlighting  its relevance for biomedical research and future challenges.