Science Discussion Group

report of SDG meeting on Monday 27 February 2023

“Viewpoint” Owen Rackham, Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS, Medical School

How fortunate we are in this group. We hear from a wide-ranging field of excellent speakers and the presentation from Owen Rackham on smORFs was no exception. Owen explained that his interest in discovering more about the natural workings of cells began when he worked locally for Langmeads, farmers who also grow and market lettuces. From this beginning, his study and research has led to his current affiliation with Southampton University and with The Alan Turing Institute.

Progress in computer science, has enabled research into the workings of our body cells, into our DNA, and into the workings of our genome. Owen’s consideration of the possible knowledge or lack of knowledge of his audience was clear, and through simplification and repetition of key points, I think that I now have a little understanding of smORFS. Genomes are hereditary; we all have the same set of genes but sequences might vary. Genomes give instructions; genes instruct on how to make proteins and proteins act within their environment as needed.

Computers have opened up a view of our genomes and the coding of DNA can be seen. Small ribosomes travel along genes, searching for start and stop codes. Large ribosomes connect when a start code is reached, and begin to combine amino acids to make a protein, stopping when a stop code is reached. These sections are called, “Open reading frames.” Previously, only “Large open reading frames,” have been studied, but new inroads into AI have created, “Ribosome profiling.” Now, all ribosome activity can be viewed and “Small open reading frames,” previously ignored, can be studied. Through this research, more proteins have been discovered. Tissue samples from different organs in the body have been explored, and so, proteins found in different locations can be identified.

It is hoped that this research will open avenues leading to new treatments for illness and disease.
This was an informative and fascinating presentation.