IGERT Nanomedicine Distinguished Lecture

Date: 12/05/2008
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: 20 West Village F Auditorium
Speaker: Dr. Anita Goel, Harvard/MIT, Founder Nanobiosym, Inc

Harnessing Nanomotors that Read and Write DNA for Nanomedicine Dr. Anita Goel, MD, PhD Abstract: Living systems employ biological nanomotors to build life�s essential molecules � such as DNA and proteins � as well as to transport cargo inside cells with both spatial and temporal precision. Each motor is highly specialized and performs a distinct function within the cell. Some have even evolved sophisticated mechanisms to ensure quality control during nanomanufacturing processes, whether to correct errors in biosynthesis or to detect and repair damaged transport highways. In general, these nanomotors consume chemical energy in order to undergo a series of shape changes that enable them to interact sequentially with other molecules and thereby perform a specific function. Dr. Goel will discuss some of the many tasks that biomotors perform and analyze their underlying design principles from physics perspective. She will also discuss initial experiments and some strategies to harness biomotors for various applications, including nanomedicine.