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SUMMARY:Regulatory RNA - Professor Eric Miska from Department of Genetics\
 , University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20180503T130000Z
DTEND:20180503T140000Z
UID:TALK102496@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Caroline Newnham
DESCRIPTION:Since August Weismann (1834-1914) formulated the distinction b
 etween innate and acquired characteristics at the end of the 19th century\
 , the debate relating to the inheritance of acquired traits has raised man
 y controversies in the scientific community. Following convincing argument
 s against (e.g. William Bateson) this debate was then set aside by the maj
 ority of the scientific community. However\, a number of epigenetic phenom
 ena involving RNA\, histone modification or DNA methylation in many organi
 sms have renewed interest in this area. Transgenerational effects likely h
 ave wide-ranging implications for human health\, biological adaptation and
  evolution\, however their mechanism and biology remain poorly understood.
  We recently demonstrated that a germline nuclear small RNA/chromatin path
 way can maintain epi-allelic inheritance for many generations in C. elegan
 s. This is a first in animals. We named this phenomenon RNA-induced epigen
 etic silencing (RNAe). We are currently further characterizing the mechani
 sm of RNAe. In addition\, we are testing the hypothesis that RNAe provides
  a transgenerational memory of the environment (“Lamarckism”). We are 
 currently exploring related phenomena in mice. We are also working towards
  establishing iPS cells differentiating into germ cells as a model to stud
 y the mechanism of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.\n\n
LOCATION:Biffen Lecture Theatre\, Department of Genetics\, Downing Site
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