DASGUPTA LABORATORY
Recreating the lost RNA World of primordial life
Illuminating the hidden RNA World of modern life
Keep an eye on this space for updates
Keep an eye on this space for updates
July 9, 2024
July 9, 2024
We had our first group meeting, where postdoc Annyesha presented her PhD research and recent results in our lab.
We had our first group meeting, where postdoc Annyesha presented her PhD research and recent results in our lab.
We hope this is the start of something great!
We hope this is the start of something great!
June 10-14, 2024
June 10-14, 2024
Taylor attended AbGradCon (the largest Astrobiology conference for students) at Cornell. She presented a poster on her work on the importance of bifunctional RNA enzymes on primordial enzyme evolution.
Taylor attended AbGradCon (the largest Astrobiology conference for students) at Cornell. She presented a poster on her work on the importance of bifunctional RNA enzymes on primordial enzyme evolution.
The first of many for Taylor!
The first of many for Taylor!
June 7, 2024
June 7, 2024
We had our Lab Warming party.
We had our Lab Warming party.
Great job, Taylor, for putting everything together!
Great job, Taylor, for putting everything together!
June, 2024
June, 2024
High schoolers Areej Arif, Ishita Aswasthi, and Jenny Yang join the lab for a month-long summer internship. They will be developing heavy-metal sensors using RNA aptamers
High schoolers Areej Arif, Ishita Aswasthi, and Jenny Yang join the lab for a month-long summer internship. They will be developing heavy-metal sensors using RNA aptamers
May 13-14, 2024
May 13-14, 2024
Saurja was an invited speaker at the University of Notre Dame Annual Biochemistry/IBMS retreat.
Saurja was an invited speaker at the University of Notre Dame Annual Biochemistry/IBMS retreat.
His talk was entitled "How to create life...from scratch"
His talk was entitled "How to create life...from scratch"
Matt Politte
Drew Baranko
April 26, 2024
April 26, 2024
The lab welcomes undergraduate students Matthew Politte (Organic Chemistry major) and Andrew Baranko (Biochemistry major).
The lab welcomes undergraduate students Matthew Politte (Organic Chemistry major) and Andrew Baranko (Biochemistry major).
Matt and Drew will develop RNA aptamer-based biosensors.
Matt and Drew will develop RNA aptamer-based biosensors.
April 5-6, 2024
April 5-6, 2024
Taylor and Saurja attended the inaugural 'Organs and Origins' Conference titled: "What is an Organ?"
Taylor and Saurja attended the inaugural 'Organs and Origins' Conference titled: "What is an Organ?"
Taylor was awarded a fellowship funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Taylor was awarded a fellowship funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024
Our collaborative paper was published in PNAS Nexus.
Our collaborative paper was published in PNAS Nexus.
In this paper, we explored environments that would have been conducive to the emergence of cellular life on the Earth. We showed that natural soda lake water could provide a suitable environment for three processes likely important for the origin of cellular life: nonenzymatic RNA polymerization, ribozyme activity, and encapsulation by prebiotic membranes. Read the paper here.
In this paper, we explored environments that would have been conducive to the emergence of cellular life on the Earth. We showed that natural soda lake water could provide a suitable environment for three processes likely important for the origin of cellular life: nonenzymatic RNA polymerization, ribozyme activity, and encapsulation by prebiotic membranes. Read the paper here.
March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024
Taylor Opolka joins the lab as its first graduate student.
Taylor Opolka joins the lab as its first graduate student.
Taylor joined us from Davenport University, where she was a star basketball player.
Taylor joined us from Davenport University, where she was a star basketball player.
She will investigate the molecular principles underlying RNA evolution. Welcome to the RNA World, Taylor!
She will investigate the molecular principles underlying RNA evolution. Welcome to the RNA World, Taylor!
March 1, 2024
March 1, 2024
We did our first experiment!
We did our first experiment!
That's one small step for a new lab...
That's one small step for a new lab...
December 8, 2023
December 8, 2023
Saurja was an invited speaker at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He spoke about his efforts to create RNA-based life in the lab.
Saurja was an invited speaker at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He spoke about his efforts to create RNA-based life in the lab.
September 14, 2023
September 14, 2023
The title of his talk was: "Primordial RNA assembly: Chemistry, Catalysis, and Compartmentalization."
The title of his talk was: "Primordial RNA assembly: Chemistry, Catalysis, and Compartmentalization."
August 2, 2023
August 2, 2023
The title of his talk was: "Primordial RNA assembly: Chemistry, Catalysis, and Compartmentalization."
The title of his talk was: "Primordial RNA assembly: Chemistry, Catalysis, and Compartmentalization."
June 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
New paper out in Chemistry - A European Journal !
New paper out in Chemistry - A European Journal !
We establish the first instance of RNA-catalyzed RNA assembly within prebiotically relevant fatty acid protocells.
We establish the first instance of RNA-catalyzed RNA assembly within prebiotically relevant fatty acid protocells.
June 29, 2023
June 29, 2023
Zoe is currently a post-baccalaureate researcher in Dr. Francis Collins' lab at NIH.
Zoe is currently a post-baccalaureate researcher in Dr. Francis Collins' lab at NIH.
December 8, 2023
December 8, 2023
Saurja was an invited speaker at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He spoke about his efforts to create RNA-based life in the lab.
Saurja was an invited speaker at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He spoke about his efforts to create RNA-based life in the lab.