Ideas Lab: Dark Dimensions of the RNA Regulome (D2R2)

为期一周的研讨会，即所谓的思想实验室，将把生命科学界的不同成员聚集在一起，更好地了解活着的有机体中存在的一整套基因成分是如何被用来维持其功能的。在生物体内的DNA的一部分(基因组)被转录成RNA，RNA编码蛋白质，然后蛋白质执行生物功能(生长、新陈代谢、运动等)。然而，基因组的很大一部分产生了不同类别的RNA，这些RNA不编码蛋白质，而且在功能上仍然很难确定。鉴于这些类型的分子已知存在于所有生命系统中，了解它们的功能是很重要的。这对于理解生命系统如何运作和适应环境，以及开发在生物经济中应用的新技术，包括农业、医学和生物能源，都是相关的。除了支持不同专业和背景的科学家之间有洞察力的交流外，这次研讨会最终将为学生和博士后提供跨学科研究的教育机会，因为新的研究项目将作为IDEAS实验室的结果而开发。RNA调节组的黑暗维度(D2R2)IDEAS实验室将是一个为期一周的研讨会，旨在将来自广泛学科的新研究团队聚集在一起，解决有关通常不编码蛋白质的RNA分子的进化和功能重要性的前沿问题。更深入地了解这组特征不佳的分子将有助于阐明基因和表型之间复杂相互作用的黑暗维度。尽管非编码RNA在生物中几乎无处不在，但人们对它们的作用知之甚少，也很难定义它们的作用。这个思想实验室有望为分子和进化生物学的根本性进展奠定基础。该项目将把生物学家、化学家、物理学家和生物信息学家聚集在一起，开发具有巨大潜力的尖端研究，将其转化为与生物经济相关的应用。此外，IDEA实验室将为学生和博士后提供教育机会，因为该实验室将开发几个跨学科研究项目。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A week-long workshop, a so-called Ideas Lab, will bring together different members of the life science community to better understand how the full set of genetic components that are present in living organisms are used to sustain their functions. Part of the DNA that has been characterized in living organisms (the genome) is transcribed into RNA that encodes for proteins that in turn perform biological functions (growth, metabolism, movement, etc.). Yet a large part of the genome produces diverse classes of RNA that do not encode proteins and that remain vastly uncharacterized in their function. Given that these types of molecules are known to exist in all living systems, it is important to understand their function. This is relevant to understanding how living systems function and adapt to their environment, as well as to develop new technologies with applications in bioeconomy, including agriculture, medicine, and bioenergy. In addition to supporting insightful exchanges among scientists of different expertise and backgrounds, this workshop will ultimately provide educational opportunities for students and postdocs in interdisciplinary research, as new research projects will be developed as result of this Ideas Lab.The Dark Dimensions of the RNA Regulome (D2R2) Ideas Lab will be a week-long workshop designed to bring together new research teams from a broad range of disciplines to address cutting-edge questions about the evolution and functional significance of RNA molecules that ordinarily do not encode proteins. Gaining a deeper understanding of this poorly characterized set of molecules will help illuminate dark dimensions of the complex interplay between genotype and phenotype. Although non-coding RNAs are virtually ubiquitous among living organisms, their roles are poorly understood and difficult to define. This Ideas Lab is expected to lay the groundwork for fundamental advances in molecular and evolutionary biology. This project will bring together biologists, chemists, physical scientists, and bioinformaticians to develop cutting edge research with substantial potential for translation to applications that are relevant for the bioeconomy. In addition, this Ideas Lab will give rise to educational opportunities for students and postdocs, as several interdisciplinary research projects will be developed as result of this lab.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.