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2024 Michael Smith Distinguished Lecture – Dr. Sue Biggins
October 18 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Lecture Venue Change: Now in LSC 1003
The annual Michael Smith Distinguished Lecture is organized in partnership with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Michael Smith Laboratories. This event honours Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Smith, whose academic career was deeply rooted at UBC and where his legacy continues to inspires young generations of scientists. The first Michael Smith Distinguished Lecture was held in 2005. Since then, many prestigious researchers have been invited to UBC to share their research with eager students, faculty, and staff.
Speaker: Dr. Sue Biggins
Director – Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Full Professor – Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Affiliate Full Professor – Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington
Talk Title: How do cells inherit the right chromosomes?
Abstract: The precise regulation of cell division is critical to processes such as self-renewal, proliferation and development. A key event in the cell cycle is the partitioning of every pair of duplicated chromosomes to daughter cells. Chromosomes segregate using their kinetochores, the specialized protein structures that are assembled on centromeric DNA sequences and attach to spindle microtubules. I will discuss our recent development of a single molecule assay to monitor kinetochore assembly in real time and what it has revealed about centromeric nucleosome assembly. In addition, I will discuss our recent finding using optical trapping techniques that kinetochores intrinsically make stronger attachments to the plus ends of microtubules, a property that likely contributes to their ability to stay attached to highly dynamic microtubules.
The lecture will be presented in a hybrid format. The in person talk will be hosted at the UBC Life Sciences Centre (LSC 1003). Audience members are welcome to attend either in person or via the Zoom link. Those connecting via Zoom will be able to ask questions during the Q&A session using the chat function.
Zoom Call Link: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5Eqd-mtrD0vHtGaMUleoGJGxXR89lzdV-KZ
Hosted by: Dr. Ethan Greenblatt
Co-presented by: The Michael Smith Laboratories and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
