Café Sci Cambridge: How genes shape the immune system

Wed 12 June 2019

Espresso Library

Most of the DNA that makes up the human genome is identical between people, but we all carry small differences called genetic variations. This is what makes us unique, and the majority of these have little or no impact on our health. However, some changes in the DNA are linked to disease, and some relate to common conditions that affect the immune system, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. By discovering the mechanisms through which these variation in DNA affect our susceptibility to such diseases, we’ll hope to develop more effective interventions and treatments.

To explain more, Dr Gosia Trynka from the Wellcome Sanger Institute will talk about the latest insights genomics is revealing about the astonishing complexity of our immune system. Gosia leads the immune genomics group at the Institute, using experimental and computational approaches to explore how variations in human genes impacts the immune system.

Cost: Free