The RNA World (Repeat from 2024 with no changes)
Course | Registration opens 1/21/2025 8:00 AM EST
RNA is an important regulatory molecule in the cell. Although its importance has long been underappreciated, it has risen to a new level of prominence in the pandemic. Not only is the causative agent of COVID-19 an RNA virus, two of the three currently available vaccines are RNA-based. In this course, background material on the natural functions of RNA will be presented as well as the emerging importance of RNA biology in the prevention and treatment of genetic disorders and infectious diseases. Given recent successes, it is safe to conclude that this is the advent of RNA vaccine technology.
Robert Farrell
DR. ROBERT FARRELL is the director of academic affairs and professor of biology at Penn State York. His research interest is the role of RNA in gene expression. He has authored five editions of his book “RNA Methodologies,” and has published in several peer-reviewed journals. He serves as a biopharma consultant and is occasionally called upon as an expert witness. Dr. Farrell has been the recipient of two awards for excellence in teaching from Penn State. He received his Ph.D. and master’s degree in cell biology from Catholic University and his undergraduate degree from Providence College.