RNA Biology: From Basic Mechanisms to Therapeutic Frontiers

2 credits · Graduate

One of the most dynamic molecules in biology, RNA is central to life. This course will cover RNA biology fundamentals, with topics from transcription, translation, splicing, RNA structure, modifications, and roles in cellular immunity. Students will explore how advances in RNA biology have engendered RNA-based therapeutics that are emerging as potent modes of clinical intervention, including mRNA vaccines, antisense, and siRNA drugs. Through lectures and interactive journal clubs, students will engage with both seminal and cutting-edge papers in the field, discuss technologies that enabled breakthroughs in our understanding of RNA mechanisms, and hone their abilities to critically evaluate scientific literature.