The Double Life of RNA

Lecture 4 – Life at the End of the Chromosome: Another RNA Machine

by Thomas R. Cech, PhD

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1. Start of Lecture 4
2. Introduction by HHMI Vice President Dr. Joseph Perpich
3. Human chromosomes and their replication
4. What happens at the end of the chromosomes?
5. Functions of telomeres
6. DNA sequences of telomeres in different species
7. Oxytricha as a source of telomere proteins
8. How do the telomere proteins interact with DNA?
9. The 3D structure of telomere proteins
10. Replication problems at the ends of the DNA strand
11. Telomerase solves the end-replication problem
12. Using PCR to clone telomerase RNA genes
13. Telomerase RNA is similar across different species
14. Using antibodies to tag proteins in a cell
15. Alpha/beta telomere protein location in the nucleus
16. Using an RNA probe to tag telomerase RNA
17. Location of telomerase suggests its replication role
18. Summary
19. Cech lab personnel and path of scientific training
20. Q&A: What are telomerases doing in "storage"?
21. Closing remarks by HHMI President Choppin

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