2024 Academia Sinica Open House

"DNA transcription into RNA followed by translation into protein" is the central dogma in molecular biology. The cascade of reactions defines how genetic information is encoded and translated. Through the hands-on activity of making strings of beads with different colors, we will explain how to read the genetic code and translate it into polypeptide chains, namely proteins. We shall also demonstrate how polypeptide chains are folded into different three dimensional structures to recognize other molecules to carry out their biological functions. Participants will be able to learn how genetic information is used in biology and why mutations can lead to diseases. Finally, we shall demonstrate how gene editing technology is used to repair genetic errors to help cure diseases.