A Bioinformatics Study on Deep Sequenced Small RNAs

Speaker:	Dr. Eddy Shenghua DUAN
		Medical School
		University of Massachusetts

Title:		"A Bioinformatics Study on Deep Sequenced Small RNAs"

Date:		Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Time:		4:00pm - 5:00pm

Venue:		Room 3401 (via lifts 17/18), HKUST


Abstract:

Small RNAs play a crucial role in gene regulation networks ranging from
worms to human. We have deep sequenced millions of small RNA species from
worms at different mutation and development stages. We apply
bioinformatics to study the small RNAs function in RNA interference at
systematic and genome-wdie level. These small RNAs can be grouped into
several clusters that have distinct biogenesis and function pathways.
These clusters have overlaps to some degrees, and their characteristics
make small RNAs function in both diversified and coordinated ways in gene
regulation.


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Biography:

Dr. Eddy Shenghua Duan is a postdoc fellow in the lab of Professor Craig
Mello, winner of 2006 Nobel Prize of Medicine, at University of
Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Duan is working on small RNA deep
sequencing and RNA interference pathway in worms.

Dr. Duan got his B.S. degree in polymer chemistry from Sun Yat-sen
University in 1999. After two years under supervising of Professor Ji
liangnian in bioinorganic chemistry, he went to University of Rochester in
New York for Ph.D in 2001. He received his Ph.D degree in biophysical
chemistry in 2006 at University of Rochester under supervising of
Professor Doug Turner. As a graduate student, he received training in RNA
chemistry, thermodynamics, structure biology and bioinformatics. He
developed a new method to fast determine RNA secondary structure with
novel microarray and bioinformatic algorithm. After graduation, Dr. Duan
went to biotech industry to work on realtime PCR product R&D and gene
expression microarray analysis service. In the early 2007, he joined the
lab of Professor Craig Mello. Dr. Duan is working on small RNAs deep
sequencing data analysis and RNA interference pathway in worms.