Mosaic Lecture Series - The Topology of Nucleic Acids INT 100/201 APPROVED! - Events Calendar

Mosaic Lecture Series - The Topology of Nucleic Acids INT 100/201 APPROVED!

Tuesday, March 29, 2022
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Allendale Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students

Speaker: Dr. Mariel Vazquez

Professor of Mathematics; Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Davis.

The genetic code of viruses and of living organisms is contained in very long DNA or RNA molecules, which are tightly packaged in confined environments. In order to fit, the molecules need to coil upon themselves. Understanding the shape of chromosomes is key to understanding the mechanisms of viral infection and the inner workings of a cell. We use techniques from knot theory and topology, aided by discrete and computational methods, to ask questions about the topological state of a genome. I will illustrate the use of these methods with examples drawn from recent work in my group. The lecture will be accessible to students and suitable to a diverse interdisciplinary audience.

This event is INT 100/201 approved.