Research Seminars @ Illinois

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Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

Hassel and Marianne Ledbetter MatSE Colloquium - Birnbaum Lecture - "Artificial Life, Self-replication, Exponential growth, Directed evolution, Nano-Architecture, DNA Activated NanoMachines"

Event Type: Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor: Materials Science and Engineering Department
Location: 0027/1025 Campus Instructional Facility, 1405 W. Springfield Ave
Date: Feb 17, 2025 4:00 pm
Speaker: Prof. Paul Chaikin
Contact: Bailey Peters
E-Mail: bnpeters@illinois.edu
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Originating Calendar: MatSE Colloquium Calendar; Self-replication and evolution under selective pressure are inherent phenomena in life, but few artificial systems exhibit these phenomena. We have designed a process and a system of DNA origami tiles that exponentially replicate a seed pattern, doubling (or more) the copies in each diurnal-like cycle of temperature and UV illumination, producing more than 7 million copies in 24 cycles. We demonstrate environmental selection in growing populations by incorporating pH sensitive binding in two sub-populations. We also use DNA origami to self-assemble complex arrangements of microspheres and emulsion droplets with highly specific geometry showing control over valence, position, dihedral angles, chirality and to make micro-machines that use DNA as fuel.

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