Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Sydney Altman lectured at Fundación

December 3, 2007

As part of the Seminar Series activity organized by Fundación Ciencia para la Vida and sponsored by MIFAB, Dr. Sydney Altman, 1989 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, gave a lecture at the Enrique Méndez Auditorium.

The renowned Canadian scientist was awarded this important Prize for his discovery of the catalytic properties of ribonucleic acid (RNA). His results suggest that RNA and not proteins could have played a key role as cell activity regulators in the planet’s origin of life.

DNA cannot exist without the necessary enzymes (proteins), and proteins cannot be generated without DNA (since they are encoded in the genetic information); however, Dr. Altman’s findings demonstrated that RNA is capable of carrying out both functions: storing genetic information and facilitating chemical reactions.

The lecture was presented by Dr. Arturo Yudelevich, Executive Vice President of Bios Chile, who did his postdoctoral research in England with Dr. Altman.

Dr. Sydney Altman shares a moment with students in the labs of Fundación Ciencia para la Vida.

Dr. Sydney Altman during his lecture at the Enrique Méndez Auditorium