From ancient potatoes to future computers

Over the past two centuries, potato breeding in Europe has led to a lot of inbreeding resulting in some old types of potatoes which contributed their DNA many times to the modern potatoes we eat today. This project aims to identify these old potato types and figure out how many of them we need to capture all the genetic information in modern European potatoes. We do this by using a breeding pedigree of European potatoes and simulating how DNA passes from one generation to the next. By doing this, we hope to better understand the genetic makeup of modern potatoes and improve future breeding.

Quantum computing is a new and exciting area of technology that has the potential to solve complex mathematical problems. However, the building blocks of quantum computers, called qubits, are very sensitive to outside forces, making them difficult to work with. One solution to this problem is using so called Majorana qubits which store information in a unique way that makes them less likely to be affected by external disturbances. Scientists have created a simple model using a chain of electrons to help them build Majorana qubits using special materials called one-dimensional superconductors.

The VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry is a place where people from 17 European countries can sign up to participate in medical studies and clinical trials. Over 100,000 people have registered so far providing information on their medical history. When researchers need volunteers for a study, they can search the registry to find people who meet their criteria. The registry has been used for 28 studies, with over 70,000 participation opportunities offered to volunteers. Many of these studies are related to COVID-19, such as finding the best vaccination schemes or testing new vaccines.

Önay and Kristel will be talking about the role of cell death in different disease settings. Kristel will discuss Long COVID, a debilitating condition that can last for years after infection, and how regulated cell death may be involved in its onset and progression. Önay will talk about diabetes, a chronic disease that affects how the body processes sugar, and how necroptosis, a type of cell death, has been linked to the onset and progression of the disease.They will both discuss their research and how understanding these mechanisms may lead to better treatments and disease management options.