#1050 David Henshall - Fine-Tuning Life: A Guide to MicroRNAs, Your Genome's Master Regulators

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Jan 24, 2025

David Henshall, a Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and expert in epilepsy research, dives deep into the fascinating world of microRNAs. He explains how these tiny regulators are pivotal in gene expression and evolution. The discussion highlights their role in speciation and human cognition, and how they might revolutionize medical diagnostics, particularly in cancer. Henshall also unpacks the complexities of RNA regulation, shedding light on the intricate dance between genetics and life itself.

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ANECDOTE

MicroRNA Discovery

MicroRNAs were discovered in 1993 while studying C. elegans worm development.
Researchers found a short RNA (Lin-4) regulating another gene (Lin-14), revealing a new gene control mechanism.

INSIGHT

MicroRNA Evolution and Function

MicroRNAs exist in various organisms, including plants and fungi, suggesting convergent evolution.
They likely evolved to stabilize noisy gene activity and enable complex life.

INSIGHT

MicroRNA Biogenesis and Mechanism

MicroRNAs are transcribed from DNA, processed, and then bound to a protein called Argonaute.
The microRNA-Argonaute complex targets mRNAs, reducing protein levels by blocking translation or degrading the mRNA.

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Dr. David Henshall is Professor of Physiology and Medical Physics at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. His laboratory is studying cell and molecular mechanisms of epilepsy. His research team combines cell and molecular biology techniques, data science and bioinformatics, pharmacology, neuroscience and behavior, imaging and histology, and employs a range of experimental and human models. He is the author of Fine-Tuning Life: A Guide to MicroRNAs, Your Genome's Master Regulators.

In this episode, we focus on Fine-Tuning Life. We start by covering some basics of DNA and RNA. We talk about microRNAs: how they were discovered and how we learn about them; how they evolved; how they are produced in cells; their functions and role in fine-tuning life; how they work; and their role in evolution and speciation. We then get specifically into how they work in human development, their role in brain physiology and brain cell structure, cognition and intelligence, and brain disease. Finally, we discuss a new picture of genetics coming from gene regulation and the role of microRNAs.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, IGOR N, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, NIKLAS CARLSSON, GEORGE CHORIATIS, VALENTIN STEINMANN, PER KRAULIS, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, MASOUD ALIMOHAMMADI, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, ERIK ENGMAN, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, STARRY, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, BENJAMIN GELBART, AND NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY!

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, AL NICK ORTIZ, NICK GOLDEN, CHRISTINE GLASS, AND KOMOMO!

AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, BOGDAN KANIVETS, ROSEY, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!