Fellow of the American Academy of Sciences and  Norman Davidson Leadership Chair of Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Jacqueline K. Barton and Member of the American Academy of Sciences and a professor of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Caltech Peter B. Dervan came to give two amazing lectures at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). Both of them brought two wonderful reports in the field of DNA research to a packed theatre of professors and students.

Professor Peter B. Dervan is dedicated to studying the chemistry of DNA sequence-specific recognition of genetic material, creating a new field of chemical biology and winning the 2006 National Science Medal. Professor Jacqueline K. Barton pioneered the application of transition metal complexes to detect the recognition and reaction of double-stranded DNA. The role of chemistry in DNA repair earned them the 2011 National Science Medal.

Peter B. Dervan first gave a report titled “Molecular Recognition of DNA: From Discovery to Oncology,” which presented the results of a study on a class of small synthetic molecules called pyrrole-imidazole polyamides. Jacqueline K. Barton followed up with a wonderful report entitled “DNA-Mediated Signaling.” In her report, she described the sensitivity of double-stranded DNA as a conduit to perturbations in DNA base stacks, and researchers are exploring how this chemistry can be used for long-range signal transduction in cells.

After the lecture, both professors answered the questions from professors and students. They also expressed their views that the SUSTech faculty members and students had made great achievements in scientific research.