CDB Seminar - Professor Oded Rechavi, University of Tel Aviv
Title: Transgenerational small RNA inheritance in worms
CDB Seminar - Professor Oded Rechavi, University of Tel Aviv
04 May 2023, 12:00 – 13:00
Talk abstract: In C. elegans nematodes, dedicated machinery enables transmission of small RNAs which regulate gene expression across multiple generations, independently of changes to the DNA sequence. Different environmental challenges, including exposure to starvation, genomic parasites, bacterial pathogens, and heat stress generate heritable small RNA responses, that in certain cases can be adaptive. Recently we have also shown that even neuronal processes can produce small RNA-mediated heritable responses, and that the decisions that the progeny makes are affected by whether their ancestors experienced stress or not. I will discuss the underlying mechanisms, and the potential of small RNA inheritance to affect the worms’ fate. Lastly, I will examine how these new findings might affect our view of the process of evolution and the limits of inheritance and provide evidence that transgenerational inheritance of small RNAs is possible even in other, very different organisms.
Suggested references:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580722000053
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31178120/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11715-7
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32492404/
Host: Tanushree Kundu
Zoom: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/97532319493
PLEASE NOTE - THIS TALK WILL NOT BE RECORDED
Tel Aviv University
Prof. Oded Rechavi’s mission is to challenge fundamental long-held scientific dogmas. He found an exception to the original “Cell Theory”, provided the first direct evidence that an acquired trait can be inherited, elucidated an alternative transgenerational inheritance mechanism (that depends on inherited small RNA molecules, not DNA molecules), discovered a mechanism that allows nematodes’ brains to control the behavior of their progeny, discovered a neuronal circuit-level mechanism that explains economic irrationality, and demonstrated that parasites can be genetically engineered to deliver drugs to the nervous system. Recently, Prof. Rechavi utilized genome sequencing to “piece together” fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Prof. Rechavi is an ERC Fellow, and was awarded many prestigious prizes, such as the Schmidt Science Polymath award, the Kadar award, Blavatnik award, the Krill Wolf award, the Alon, and F.I.R.S.T (Bikura) Prizes, and the Gross Lipper Fellowship. Prof. Rechavi was selected as one of the “10 Most Creative People in Israel Under 40”, and one of the “40 Most Promising People in Israel Under 40”.
Further information
Ticketing
Open
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
Related events
Brain Meeting: Ayelet Landau
Rhythmic attention negotiates competition along the visual hierarchy
MRCP PACES Course in Neurology, Queen Square
An intensive one-day clinical course for candidates preparing for the MRCP Part II examination - specifically for the PACES examination.
Graduate Open Events: Language Sciences at UCL information session
Attend our upcoming virtual open day for the MSc Language Sciences and the MA Linguistics to find out more about the programmes and the amazing pathways they can lead to.