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News 2024

EMBO Workshop on Recoding and Diversity of Genetic Decoding

28 May 2024
L-R: Profs Andrew Firth (Cambridge Univ.), Marla Berry (Univ of Hawaii), Pavel Baranov (UCC), Marina Rodnina (Max Planck Institute for Interdisciplinary Science), Ian Brierley (Cambridge Univ.)

On May 13-18 a workshop on Recoding and Diversity of Genetic Decoding took place in Bantry where approximatley 100 participants gathered from leading universities around the world. 

The workshop was organised by EMBO - the European Molecular Biology Organisation - a group of more than 1800 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences.

The event focused on the world of genetic decoding, exploring various mechanisms that influence how our cells interpret genetic information.

The workshop's principal organiser was Prof. Pavel (Pasha) Baranov, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC who was supported by co-organisers Professors Marla Berry, Ian Brierley, Andrew Firth, and Marina Rodnina.

This was the third meeting on the topic of Recoding, all organised in Ireland.

Professor John Atkins, School of Chemistry and Cell Biology, UCC, a founding father in the field, received a Lifetime Career Achievement award at the meeting.

His groundbreaking work challenged the most universal principle of the genetic decoding, that the amino acids in proteins are encoded in triplets of nucleotides with no gaps or overlaps between these triplets.

Prof. Jill Banfield, University of California, Berkeley received the IUBMB Jubilee Lecturer award. This prestigious award recognises transformational findings in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Talks and poster presentations covered discoveries of alternative genetic decoding relevant to human health. The workshop provided a unique opportunity for researchers to share their most recent research findings, discuss future directions and establish new collaborations.

College of Science, Engineering and Food Science

Coláiste na hEolaíochta, na hInnealtóireachta agus na hEolaíochta Bia

Block E, Level 3, Food Science Building, UCC, Cork, T12 YN60.

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