Tag: genetics

DNA Replication and Convergent Evolution: How Life Reinvented a Core Process

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

Since the very beginning of life, organisms have needed a way to store and pass on information. Current knowledge suggests that the first form of genetic information was stored in ribonucleic acid (RNA). Over time, life invented DNA, a chemically more stable molecule, for long-term information storage and faithful inheritance across generations. This genetic information … Continue reading DNA Replication and Convergent Evolution: How Life Reinvented a Core Process

The Evolution of the Central Dogma: Insights from RNA Biology

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

RNA biology has won two consecutive Nobel Prizes in 2023 and 2024. Along with other groundbreaking discoveries, these Nobel Prize-winning advancements in RNA biology have significantly impacted the field of molecular biology and continue to challenge some of our central ideas about life and gene regulation. One of the best examples supporting this notion is … Continue reading The Evolution of the Central Dogma: Insights from RNA Biology

Breaking the Mold: Exploring Polycistronic Transcription in Eukaryotes

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

Transcription regulation lets an organism "pull out" from its genome what it needs when it needs it and "put it back" until it’s needed again. However, some organisms prefer to “keep” everything in front of them and use it on the spot. They essentially transcribe everything at once, with some differences that we’ll discuss later, … Continue reading Breaking the Mold: Exploring Polycistronic Transcription in Eukaryotes

Hands-On vs. Hands-Off: Finding the Right Approach in PhD Supervision

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

Supervising a PhD student is a weighty responsibility that plays a pivotal role in preparing and shaping the next generation of scholars and researchers. A PhD supervisor guides the student through their doctoral studies, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to succeed in their future endeavors in academia. At … Continue reading Hands-On vs. Hands-Off: Finding the Right Approach in PhD Supervision

RNA Stability: From Transient Messengers to Resilient Architects

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

Macromolecules' stability governs and affects most cellular processes, well-being, and the life cycle. Beyond the cellular level, it plays a key role in development, physiological responses, and homeostasis. The two sister nucleic acids, RNA and DNA, share many similarities, but they differ greatly in their respective half-lives. DNA is an extremely stable molecule that can … Continue reading RNA Stability: From Transient Messengers to Resilient Architects

An Entirely New tRNA Chromosome: Are we truly on the brink of synthesizing new forms of life?

~ Fadel Fakih ~ Leave a comment

The Synthetic Yeast Genome Project - Sc2.0 is a state-of-the-art initiative in which scientists from all around the world are collaborating to synthesize an entire eukaryotic genome, specifically that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This endeavor aims to empower researchers to understand and overcome obstacles in genome improvement, fostering the creation of more robust organisms for key … Continue reading An Entirely New tRNA Chromosome: Are we truly on the brink of synthesizing new forms of life?