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Séminaires

Valérie de Crécy-Lagard, PhD

Distinguished Professor, AAAS & ASM fellow

Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida 

"From Bacteria to Humans: Using Comparative Genomics to Reveal Hidden Gene Functions"

host: A . David (IRCM)

This talk highlights how comparative genomics, combined with biochemistry, structural biology, and machine learning, can uncover the functions of genes across all domains of life. It explains why functional annotation remains one of biology’s biggest challenges—due to paralogs, missing genes, inconsistent curation, and the limits of sequence?based prediction.

Through case studies, the presentation shows how bacterial model systems help solve long?standing mysteries in human biology. Examples include the discovery of the t6A tRNA?modification pathway, the functional and medical relevance of the PLPBP/YggS protein family, and the identification of the long?missing queuine/queuosine transporter in eukaryotes (SLC35F2). The talk emphasizes that accurate gene?function discovery requires integrative approaches and community?driven curation, as AI alone cannot yet resolve complex functional questions.