Decoding RNA mysteries: a new era for biology and medicine

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, STEM clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 biology and chemistry.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of researchers with a range of expertise in RNA biology. These researchers formed a committee for the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to analyse the current state of RNA sequencing and explore how we can advance our understanding of RNA modifications.

• This resource also contains interviews with team members and offers an insight into careers in RNA biology. If your students have questions for the team, they can send them through the Futurum Careers website.

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on the team’s report and challenges them to explore the importance of RNA modifications, interdisciplinary collaboration and ethics in RNA biology research.

• The accompanying PowerPoint reiterates the key points in the article and encourages students to reflect on their own aspirations.

• In the accompanying podcast, Dr Sarath Janga discusses the applications of RNA biology and the importance of taking an interdisciplinary approach to your studies.

This resource was first published by Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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