2024 CMS Summer Meeting Mini-Courses: Applied Topology: DNA Topology
Topic
Applied Topology: DNA Topology
Details
DNA topology is the study of the geometry (supercoiling) and topology (knotting and linking) of DNA. Knots and links in DNA are known to obstruct normal cellular processes and geometric factors such as the amount of writhe or supercoiling are known to affect the formation of entanglements in DNA. Enzymes that act on DNA to cut and reconnect the DNA are nature’s solution for removing these topological obstructions. Polymer models have proved useful for geometric modeling of DNA conformations and methods from knot theory have enabled the characterization of entanglements and the results of enzyme action. Topological methods including tangle analysis, braid theory, classical and quantum knot invariants, and Floer homology can be successfully applied to analyze reactions and characterize entangled structures.
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The mini-course on DNA topology will be structured as follows:
- Discussion of motivational problems from DNA experiments [enzyme action on DNA, DNA packing]
- Overview of knot theoretic foundations and methodology [skein relations, knot polynomials, tangle and braid techniques, homology-theoretic strategies]
- Hands-on computational tools crash-course demonstrating several packages, programs, and techniques. [Participants will learn about tools such as the Knot Theory package in Sage, KnotPlot, lattice knot simulations, and other computational tools and databases.]
Additional Information
The CMS is organizing mini-courses to add more value to meetings and make them attractive for students and researchers to attend. The mini-courses will be held on Friday, May 31 and include topics suitable for graduate students, postdocs, and other interested parties.
Partial funding may be available for students, postdocs, and early-career researchers to attend the Applied Topology minicourses. To receive more information and apply for this opportunity, please fill out this google form. For full consideration, please apply by May 1 using this form: https://forms.gle/v5FEVmcYC4w2nyXw5
For registration, please complete the Google form for funding above and then enrol through the CMS website.