This is a short course for graduate students interested in the field of nucleic
acids. Topics include structure, chemical reactivity and metal binding properties,
advanced methods for synthesis of DNA/RNA, non-canonical DNA/RNA structures and
functions, and therapeutic applications of modified nucleic acids.
Description: This is a short course for graduate students interested in the field of nucleic acids. Topics include structure, chemical reactivity and metal binding properties, advanced methods for synthesis of DNA/RNA, non-canonical DNA/RNA structures and functions, and therapeutic applications of modified nucleic acids. September 21/2026 Part 1 – Structure, chemical reactivity, metal binding properties, advanced methods of synthesis for DNA and RNA September 22/2026 Part 2 – Therapeutic Applications (antisense, siRNA, CRISPR/Cas, and mRNA). Bibliography (optional). 1) Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, Harri Lönnberg, published by the Deutsche National bibliothek, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. 2020. 2) Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology (4th edition), G. Michael Blackburn, Martin Egli, Michael J. Gait, and Jonathan K. Watts; The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge (UK), 2022). Assessment: An assignment to test your understanding of the topics covered in class.