August 24, 2009
Uri Keich
School of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Sydney
Title:  Discovering and confidently estimating the number of replication origins

Asbtract:  Eukaryotic chromosomes initiate DNA synthesis from multiple replication origins. To date, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae replication origins map is the only genome map available. Using an iterative approach that combines computational prediction and functional validation we have generated a high-resolution genome-wide map of DNA replication origins in Kluyveromyces lactis. To reliably estimate how complete is our coverage we developed a method that applies more broadly for estimating and providing a confidence interval for the number of functional binding sites. Most of the talk will be dedicated to the statistical aspects of the work and the relevant biological terminology will be explained.
Joint work with Ivan Liachko, Anand Bhaskar, Chanmi Lee, Shau Chee Claire Chung, and Bik-Kwoon Tye