Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Annual Toy Drive
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics held its annual toy drive this season to collect toys and items for the Golisano Children's Hospital. Dr. Alan Grossfield delivered a cart full of goodies to the Golisano Children's hospital on Thursday, December 16th along with graduate student, Emily Robinson, and staff accountant, Amy Roman. The gifts are given to the children in the hospital during the holiday season. Any remaining gifts are used to support the needs of the children and playrooms throughout the year.
Read the thank you letter.
In the Pocket: RNA Binding Discovery Supports ‘RNA World’ Theory of Early Life on Earth
Friday, January 14, 2022
RNA biologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have discovered that RNA, the chemical cousin of DNA, can bind two metabolites (small molecules) at the same time in a single binding pocket, causing those molecules to interact. This discovery, published in Nature Communications this week, could lead to new antibacterial drugs while helping to fill a gap in the controversial “RNA world” theory, which suggests that RNA molecules enabled life to evolve on Earth 3.5 billion years ago.
Read More: In the Pocket: RNA Binding Discovery Supports ‘RNA World’ Theory of Early Life on Earth