Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Time: 12:15-1:15
Location: Tate 480 – Note: this is just down the hallway from our normal meeting room.
The speaker for the March meeting will be Dr. Michael Terns, UGA Biochemistry and Molecular Biology distinguished research professor. His topic is entitled “The CRISPR Gene Engineering Revolution: How bacteria taught us how to edit our genomes to change our lives forever.” The CRISPR technology is powerful but comes with some ethical concerns. Dr. Terns will help us understand this technology and some of its possible applications. An abstract is below.
Abstract: The revolutionary gene engineering technology known as CRISPR is based on a discovery in bacteria that enable them to protect themselves from viruses and other invasive elements. Through harnessing the functional properties of the various CRISPR systems, researchers have created powerful, programmable research tools that have already had a significant impact on important biomedical and biotechnological applications. Collectively, these fundamentally important CRISPR-based technologies have revolutionized science such that we are now able to control gene expression, edit genomes, correct genetic mutations, etc., in essentially any cell or organism. This technology has the potential to enable us to direct our own evolution. For better or worse, we are now living in a post-CRISPR era!
We will provide a light complimentary lunch to everyone who sends in their RSVP by Tuesday, March 3, by 5 pm. You can RSVP by filling out the form below.