PRBB Computational Genomics Seminars John Mattick

21/05/202612:00173.06/183.01_IMIMPRBB Computational Genomics SeminarsJohn MattickUNSW Sydney"RNA Biology 2.0"Host: Novoa Pardo, Eva MariaAbstract:The conceptual framework of molecular biology was established in the middle of the last century and has remained firmly grounded in the assumption that genes are generally synonymous with proteins and that the mechanisms that regulate microbial physiology are sufficient to orchestrate the development of multicellular organisms. Since the turn of the century, however, this simple framework has all but collapsed, following the demonstration that most of the genome in humans and other developmentally complex organisms is transcribed, mostly to produce long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Most lncRNAs are the products of genetic loci called 'enhancers', which control the spatiotemporal patterns of cell division and differentiation, acting as scaffolds and guides for epigenetic transactions. Other lncRNAs are likely scaffolds for functionally specialized membraneless metabolic and signalling compartments in the cytoplasm. These observations create the foundation for a more holistic understanding of genomic programming, evolution, genetic disorders, development, neuroscience, immunology, cell biology and synthetic biology. They also create opportunities for new therapies and genetic engineering, in view of the fact that most GWAS regions linked to complex traits and disorders express lncRNAs, and that there is high functional orthology between them.