Frontiers in Biology
Rapid Fire 1
Spring 2008
Today's Agenda
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Gene Therapy
Sleep
Aging
Life
Epigenetics
The Killer Flu
For Each Topic…
• 10-15 minute video
• Answer 3 questions
• Q & A session
Gene Therapy
In practice
IOO
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What does IOO mean to you?
Institute of Ophthalmology
University College London
University of London
My old lab….
Centre of Research Excellence
Prof. Robin Ali
Seeking a cure for blindness…
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
News coverage….
• NBC Evening News
Sleep
• What happened to the flies that were
deprived of sleep?
• Why is sleep necessary?
• Which animals need sleep?
Aging
• What is the average current age span of
Americans?
• What is the correlation between diet and
aging?
• What chemical in red wine good for
you?
Life
• What is easier, to build a bomb or to
make life?
• What is fascinating about a meteorite?
• What did they do at MIT with artificial
life?
Epigenetics
• What does epigenetics mean?
• How does older twins’ DNA compare to
that of younger twins?
• How important is epigenetics to who
you are?
The Flu
• Where do all flu viruses start?
• Can the bird flu pass between humans
easily?
• H5N1 mean?