Abstract:
Prof. Lamia Wahba will discuss her work on the topic of nongenetic inheritance, exploring how biological information beyond the DNA sequence is transmitted across generations and its impact on development, adaptation, and evolution. Focusing on the nematode C. elegans as a model system, Prof. Wahba's research delves into the molecular mechanisms governing the inheritance of small RNAs (sRNAs) and their Argonaute protein partners. Her work has revealed how these molecules maintain the immortal character of the germline and how their dysregulation can lead to transgenerational sterility. A key finding is the critical role of the piRNA pathway in preventing the overamplification of heritable sRNA signals, thereby ensuring proper gene regulation and fertility across generations. The talk will highlight the potent nature of nongenetic inheritance and the intricate molecular machinery that has evolved to control it, ultimately questioning whether our current DNA-centric framework of inheritance needs to be expanded.

Bio:
Dr. Lamia Wahba is an Assistant Professor at The Rockefeller University, where she heads the Laboratory of Non-canonical Modes of Inheritance. Her research investigates the regulation and consequences of nongenetic inheritance, using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Dr. Wahba began her current position in 2023. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University from 2014 to 2022. She earned her Ph.D. in biology from Johns Hopkins University in 2013 and her B.S. in biology and math from the College of William and Mary in 2006. Her work has been recognized with several awards, including the Irma T. Hirschl and Monique Weill-Caulier Trust Research Award in 2023 and a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Fellowship in 2014.