#  2025 Prather Lecture Series: Feng Zhang 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **April 2, 2025** 

 05:30PM - 06:30PM EDT 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **Science Center Hall D, 1 Oxford Street**  



 

 



 

   ![Feng Zhang- 2025 Prather Lecturer](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-03/Feng%20Zhang%20crop.jpeg?itok=4OgWKdMn) 

 

[Dr. Feng Zhang](https://www.zlab.bio/)   
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute  
Core Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard  
Investigator, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT  
James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, MIT  
Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT

[*Copy-Paste: An Exploration of Retrotransposons and Their Functions in Microbes and Man*](https://www.oeb.harvard.edu/prather-lecture-series)

**Abstract:** Retrotransposons, a type of mobile DNA element, are molecular machines that create an RNA copy of their genetic information, reverse transcribe that RNA copy back into DNA, and then paste the DNA copy into the genome in a new location. Retrotransposons originated from retroviruses that integrated into the genome of an ancestral host. Although they could be considered “parasites,” retrotransposons have been co-opted by their hosts, which range from microbes to humans, for diverse functions. In this talk, Zhang will discuss some of these functions as well as how these systems can be engineered for use as molecular technologies.

Co-sponsored by The Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Prather Lecture Series ](/event-type/prather-lecture-series)
 
 

 Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://www.oeb.harvard.edu/node/1623241/event-feed.ics)  Copy link link