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<div style="font-family: Arial; ">Dear Bio undergrads and all other interested undergraduate students,</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">We would like to invite you to attend our course 7.344 '<b>Beyond the code: Emerging Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression
'</b>. It is part of the Advanced Undergrad Seminar Series and
focusses on the exciting new perspectives and concepts that the scientific community is currently developing based on the study of non-coding RNAs. For more details please see the course description below, and please feel free to email us with any questions.
Class starts on Wed 02/05, but students interested in joining after that date are welcome, too. Class time is still flexible and will be decided upon according to participants' preferences.</font></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">Thank you!</font></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">Best,</font></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">Jessica and Johanna</font></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">(<a href="mailto:hurt@mit.edu">hurt@mit.edu</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:josch@mit.edu">josch@mit.edu</a>)</font></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; "><font size="2">----</font></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; "><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; ">7.344 Beyond the Code: Emerging Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; ">Instructors: Johanna Scheuermann (<span style="color: blue; "><a href="mailto:josch@mit.edu">josch@mit.edu</a></span>, 4-5094; laboratory of Laurie Boyer) </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; "> Jessica Hurt (<span style="color: blue; "><a href="mailto:hurt@mit.edu">hurt@mit.edu</a></span>, 3-6726; laboratory of Chris Burge)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; ">Spring 2014. Wednesdays, 3 – 5 pm. (Class time is flexible.) Room 68-150.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; "><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; ">Course description</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; "></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times; ">The central dogma of biology, “DNA makes RNA makes protein,” reflects the function of RNA primarily as a messenger molecule linking the storage of genetic
information in DNA to its output as protein. However, recent groundbreaking research has revealed that only a small fraction of all mammalian RNA molecules is actually translated into protein. Seeking the biological roles of this newly appreciated population
of non-coding RNAs has quickly emerged as a novel horizon in the RNA field. We now know that many classes of non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, exist and play critical roles as regulatory molecules in the cell. Collectively, these
RNA species are involved in every layer of the regulation of gene expression, often employing novel and unexpected molecular strategies. Numerous studies are underway with the goal of deciphering the many functions of non-coding RNAs in controlling differentiation,
development, and tissue homeostasis. In this course we will discuss the classes of non-coding RNAs and differences between coding and non-coding transcripts. We will learn about mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs control gene expression, from the level of
transcription and chromatin to the regulation of later steps in mRNA biogenesis, including transcription, splicing, polyadenylation and decay. For example, we will learn how microRNAs target specific mRNAs to inhibit protein synthesis and how incorrect expression
of these RNAs can have dramatic consequences on cell differentiation and proliferation. We will also discuss how misregulation of non-coding RNAs has been linked to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and learn about exciting new therapeutic strategies
involving non-coding RNAs, including for the treatment of muscular dystrophy. We are planning a field trip to an RNA laboratory with publications we will have studied in class, so that students will have an opportunity to discuss science directly with the
authors and see in real life how the experiments were done. Classes will be based on interactive discussions of the primary research literature and will highlight open questions in the field, aspects of experimental design and data interpretation as well as
the benefits and pitfalls of using different techniques to study non-coding RNAs. Students also will learn about current methodological and conceptual challenges in the RNA field.</span></p>
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<div style="font-family: Tahoma; "><font face="Arial">Johanna C. Scheuermann, MD, PhD</font>
<div><font face="Arial">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">Department of Biology</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">77 Massachusetts Avenue</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">building 68, room 230</font></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Cambridge, 02139, MA</span></div>
<div><font face="Arial">USA</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial">+1-617-324-5094</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><a href="mailto:josch@mit.edu">josch@mit.edu</a></font></div>
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