A type of selfish genetic element called retrotransposons was once thought to be “junk DNA” that caused harmful mutations and inflammation. Now, Rochester researchers including Vera Gorbunova, the Doris Johns Cherry Professor in the Department of biology; Andrei Seluanov, a professor of biology; and Yang Zhao, a former postdoctoral research associate in Gorbunova’s lab, have found that retrotransposons may also be useful and trigger mechanisms that kill cancer cells.
In today’s issue:
Medical Center researchers are using regional emergency departments to expand cancer screenings
Learn more about Studio X during Friday drop-in sessions
Registration is open for next month’s Skirboll Family Autism Conference
New Wegman Scholarship supports two East High grads
Two graduates of the Rochester City School District’s East High School joined the University’s incoming class this fall as Wegman Scholars. Thanks to the generosity of the Wegman Family Charitable Foundation, Dyanna Garcia ’25 and Deziree Garrick ’25 received four-year comprehensive scholarships that include tuition, room and board, support for indirect costs and emergency needs, and an enrichment stipend.
Mixing different vaccine types might broaden the type of immune response, says Angela Branche, an assistant professor of medicine and codirector of the Medical Center’s vaccine treatment and evaluation unit, who is helping run some of the clinical trials mixing booster doses. “I think the data will show that boosting is certainly likely to be very effective in conferring additional and longer protection,” she told CNN. “We’ll be able to boost with all the vaccines.”
Attend a panel discussion with Rochester faculty sharing their experiences with design and teaching their online courses. Panel members include the Warner School of Education’s Jeffrey Choppin, a professor of mathematics education, and Andrea Barrett, an assistant professor of educational leadership; and the Eastman School of Music’s John Kapusta, an assistant professor of musicology, and Rachel Roberts, director of the Institute for Music Leadership. Register to attend the discussion, which takes place Tuesday, November 9, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT via Zoom.
Join the Goergen Institute for Data Science for Careers in Data Science with Karim Osman ’16, a data scientist for Convoy Inc., a trucking software company based in Seattle, Washington. Learn about Osman’s career path, work projects, and tips for a career in data science today, October 22, at 11 a.m. EDT via Zoom.
Drop-in Fridays at Studio X
Studio X, Rochester’s new hub for extended reality (XR), will begin holding casual weekly events every Friday, starting today, October 22, at 1 p.m. Sometimes there will be student or faculty member presentations; other times, they will be demonstrating tech or playing Beat Sabre. No registration is required. Studio X is located on the first floor of Carlson Science and Engineering Library.
Register for this year’s Skirboll Family Autism Conference
The 2021 Skirboll Family Autism Conference will be held virtually November 4–6 on Zoom. The annual event is hosted by the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities and the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. It features no-cost information sessions presented by national experts on various topics related to autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities for families, professionals, and the community. Find more details and register here.
Earlier this week, Gerald Gamm, a professor of political science and of history, took advantage of a beautiful October day to hold his “Arguments in Political Science” class outside on the River Campus.
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