Design and Analysis of RNA Molecules with Diverse Folding Pathways

University of British Columbia Computer Science, 2014-15

Liaison(s): Dr. Anne Condon
Advisor(s): Elizabeth Sweedyk
Students(s): Rachel Sherman (PM), Kennedy Agwamba (F), Sasha Heinen, Carson Ramsden

Artificially designed nucleic acid molecules with diverse folding pathways have many potential uses, from performing computations with biological material, to having therapeutic applications. However, designing molecules that behave predictably is challenging. Building on software that simulates a molecule folding, our software outputs statistics and graphics about potentially interesting structures in a molecule’s folding pathway. Researchers can use this software to test and modify new designs until they fold as desired. Additionally, we have analyzed a theorized molecule and proposed modifications to its structure.