Category: Russia

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Scientific consultant International Bioinformatics Laboratory HSE University’s Alan Herbert has proposed a new explanation for one of the unsolved mysteries of biology – the origin of the genetic code. According to a study published in the journalBiology Letters, the modern genetic code could have emerged thanks to self-organizing molecular complexes – tinkers. The author put forward a new hypothesis based on the analysis of secondary DNA structures using the AlphaFold3 neural network.

The genetic code is the “alphabet” that underlies the functioning of any living system on Earth. It determines what is written in the “instructions” for the organism and how it should be read. The modern genetic code consists of codons, each of which contains three nucleotides. These triplets code for amino acids, which then participate in the synthesis of proteins. Scientists have been studying the genetic code for over 70 years, but one of the most important questions – how exactly it arose – has not yet received a clear answer.

Scientific consultant of the International Laboratory of Bioinformatics of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Professor Alan Herbert, proposed a new explanation for the origin of the code. In his opinion, during the course of evolution, flipons — special sections of DNA capable of forming secondary structures — played a key role in the formation of the modern genetic code.

The classic DNA molecule, described by Francis Crick and James Watson, is a double helix twisted to the right. But scientists have discovered that there are alternative DNA structures: Z-DNA twisted to the left; three-stranded and four-stranded sequences; and DNA with a cross-shaped structure – i-motifs. These unusual structures arise under certain physiological conditions, and their type depends on the set and order of nucleotides in the flipon itself. The simplest flipons are formed from simple nucleotide repeats, so it is assumed that there were enough of them in the so-called primordial soup.

Using a neural network Alfafold3 DeepMind’s Alan Herbert analyzed the nature of the bonds between flipons and amino acids. “It turned out that flipons formed from two-letter repeats bind very well to simple peptides consisting of two-letter amino acid repeats. And this is exactly the kind of correspondence that is present in the modern genetic code,” comments Maria Poptsova, head of the International Bioinformatics Laboratory at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

For example, the cytosine-guanine repeat CGCGCG forms Z-DNA. A peptide with an arginine-alanine repeat RARARA binds very well to such a sequence. In the modern code, arginine corresponds to the codon CGC, and alanine to GCG. If we examine the structure of spatial interactions in detail, the best connection is obtained from non-overlapping triplets: CGCGCG binds to RA.

In the publication, Alan Herbert reviews dozens of examples of interactions between short repeat flipons and amino acid repeat peptides. It turns out that reactions leading to mutual chain elongation can also occur, especially in the presence of magnesium and zinc. These metals serve as catalysts for such reactions.

According to the author of the study, such complexes were once formed thanks to special components – tinkers, the so-called artisans of nature, as Francois Jacob called them. In the work of Professor Herbert, such self-reproducing artisans are structures consisting of flipons and peptides. Tinkers used DNA as a matrix for protein synthesis, and proteins, in turn, contributed to the elongation of the DNA helix. As a result, a triplet non-overlapping code arose: an odd number of bases allows encoding sequences of different amino acids, and the nature of the connections between flipons and amino acids requires that each codon correspond to only one amino acid.

“The role of flipons as tinkers in the initial biological evolution is a fundamentally new view of the origin of life. It is no exaggeration to say that if the theory is confirmed experimentally, our colleague Dr. Herbert deserves the Nobel Prize,” says Maria Poptsova. “The discovery of the interactions of flipons with amino acids in accordance with the table of the modern genetic code proves that the emergence of the genetic code is not an accident, but a natural result of evolution. Nature does not invent anything from scratch, it comes up with new mechanisms from what is available. Nature acts like a careless craftsman who, when he needs to quickly make something that works, not necessarily reliable and durable, grabs whatever comes to hand. This is the property behind the concept of “tinker.”

“In general, the proposed scheme does not require DNA, RNA, or the peptide world to explain the origin of life,” writes Alan Herbert in his paper. “Instead, the tinkers described are the agents that facilitate this possibility. They arise from a simple match between low-complexity nucleotides and simple peptide polymers, using metals to catalyze their initial replication. By feeding the prebiotic soup copies of themselves, these tinkers quite naturally evolved a non-overlapping, triplet genetic code.”

Beyond understanding the origins of life, studying tinkers could lead to new technologies, including artificial self-organizing systems and self-healing materials. The ability of tinkers to combine different chemical elements could be used to direct the evolution of new biomolecules.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University – Saint Petersburg State University –

Such meetings, as noted by Kamilla Nigmatullina, Head of the Department of Digital Media Communications at St. Petersburg State University, create a unique space for strengthening ties within the university community. Here, former students can not only talk about their professional path and demonstrate their achievements, but also participate in planning future projects, enriching themselves with the experience of their colleagues.

The SPbU professor emphasized that maintaining close contact with graduates is a strategically important process. Two-way communication allows the academic environment to quickly respond to the challenges of the real sector, and university students to use the resources of the educational organization for professional development, achieving career heights and increasing competitiveness as specialists.

“One of the tasks of St. Petersburg University is to create a space for alumni networking, since each of them is an integral part of a huge community united by the common values of university culture,” said Kamilla Renatovna, adding that the event’s program is structured in such a way as to provide participants with both the theoretical foundation and the practical tools necessary for the successful realization of their professional potential.

St. Petersburg State University graduates can joinprofessional chat to exchange vacancies and experience in implementing their own projects.

During the conference, graduates of various educational programs shared the results of their analysis of practical cases. VK UX researcher Polina Vanevskaya explained the differences between marketing and product research, revealing the specifics of each area. She also highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches, allowing you to optimize the decision-making process when choosing a work methodology. “Research for business is trending today. However, the key is choosing a relevant approach that will best meet the goals set, including studying customer (CX) and user (UX) experience,” the graduate said.

Noting the practice-oriented format of the event, Tatyana Kolesnikova, Head of Marketing at Smartlight, shared recommendations for developing a personal brand in social networks. She argued for the growing importance of social capital for career growth and focused on the key features of creating an effective digital resume, noting that it is becoming not just an addition to a traditional portfolio, but a full-fledged alternative to it.

The trend towards using social networks as a means of self-presentation is driven by three factors: expanding a professional network of contacts, creating a unique personal image, and establishing a direct link between the level of personal brand development and income level.

Head of Marketing Department of Smartlight Tatyana Kolesnikova

Editor-in-chief of the content marketing agency Palindrom Ekaterina Bezruchko revealed the secrets of successful regulation of creative copywriting and SEO optimization, explaining the algorithms for creating headlines that attract both readers and search engines. As part of her presentation, she analyzed the existing project “Datebook”, highlighting the principles of forming key positions and methods for integrating original elements into SEO-oriented content, and also gave practical advice on implementing similar strategies in other brand media.

Anastasia Zubova, Product Marketing Manager (PMM) of ADAS at Atom, spoke about the role of a project management specialist in optimizing processes that link advanced technological solutions with the needs of the target audience. She presented an analysis of the mechanisms by which PMM ensures synergy between innovative technologies and market demand and accelerates the commercialization of products. According to the expert, in order to ensure the competitiveness of production, it is important to constantly interact with end users to identify their hidden needs.

Senior Blogger Manager Anna Grakhova, based on eight years of experience and cases of successful advertising campaigns, described adaptive strategies for cooperation with media people in the conditions of the modern advertising environment. She reported on the current state of the online content market, taking into account the impact of new legislation, and proposed long-term solutions for planning and evaluating the effectiveness of marketing projects. As a key argument, she put forward the assumption that the distribution of investments between several medium-sized bloggers is more profitable than concentrating on one popular one.

At the end of the event, the Head of the Alumni Relations Department of St. Petersburg University, Maria Edinova, noted the high level of involvement of the participants and expressed confidence that the conference would become a starting point for new partnerships and initiatives. “Creating a platform for communication between graduates of different years contributes to the formation of a strong professional community, where everyone can find support, advice and new opportunities for development. We strive to create an ecosystem where graduates feel their involvement in the University and actively participate in its life, benefiting themselves and their alma mater,” she emphasized.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.