UNBC Hosts Second Western Canada Conference on RNA Genetic Research
July 22, 2006
50 researchers – primarily from BC and Alberta – will be meeting at UNBC on July
24-25 to present some of their findings on the frontier of genetic research. Called
RiboWest, the conference is bringing
together researchers and students to share recent results related to their
research on RNA, which is transcribed from DNA and serves as the template for
the translation of genes into proteins.
The RiboWest conference is the most recent example of a
growing profile at UNBC for teaching and research related to health and human
development. For example, though it is only three years old, the University’s
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major is the third-most popular program and
the genetics research lab in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre
has more than 20 students working on various research projects.
“Our research is contributing to an understanding of how
molecules can make things be alive,” says Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
professor Stephen Rader, who is one of the organizers of the UNBC conference. Dr.
Rader conducts research on how RNA molecules are spliced together to create
different genetic combinations. Errors in the splicing process are believed to
lead to diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. Last year, Dr. Rader had
five students working in his lab; this summer, he has 12. Among their projects
are those listed here:
- Researching the exact protein that renews the human splicing
mechanism to better understand how genetic diseases come to be.
- Determining if molecules such as environmental pollutants or even perfumes affect the splicing process.
- Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye disease.
- Developing a new technique using fluorescence and UV light to determine the presence of nuclear RNAs in various genetic combinations.
- Determining if molecules such as environmental pollutants or even perfumes affect the splicing process.
- Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye disease.
- Developing a new technique using fluorescence and UV light to determine the presence of nuclear RNAs in various genetic combinations.
“A characteristic of our lab is the large number of undergraduate
students engaged in these projects,” says Dr. Rader. “This simply isn’t the
case at many other universities and some of our students have won provincial
and national research awards – without evening finishing their bachelor’s
degrees.”
High-resolution photos are available upon request.
For further information, contact:
Stephen Rader, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor, UNBC – 250.960.6216
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
Stephen Rader, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor, UNBC – 250.960.6216
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
