Prof. RNDr. Petr Svoboda, Ph.D.
Czech molecular biologist, working at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, where he leads a research group focused on gene expression regulation. His research primarily explores microRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation, DNA protection, and the body’s defense against viruses.
Prof. Svoboda is a recognized expert in the field of RNA biology and embryonic development. He earned his PhD at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, and later worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Switzerland and the USA. He is the author of numerous scientific publications in prestigious journals and is a regular speaker at international conferences.
At DNA Day 2025, Prof. Svoboda will present a lecture titled “MicroRNAs and Their Relatives”, in which he will explain the significance of microRNAs, their discovery, mechanisms of action, and their connection to genome protection and gene expression regulation.
Lecture Annotation: The first part of the lecture will cover the history of the discovery of microRNAs, often referred to as the smallest genes, and explain how they function. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules (21-23 nucleotides long) that selectively suppress the production of specific proteins. The second part will focus on related molecular mechanisms, which not only regulate other genes but also protect DNA from damage and defend the organism against viruses.
MSc. Marián Baldovič, PhD.
Slovak archaeogeneticist, he works as a research scientist at the Department of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava, where he is also involved in teaching. His research focuses on the normal variability of human genome regions at the population level, and in recent years, he has specialized in the analysis of archaic DNA. In this field, he is considered a pioneer in Slovakia. Since 2020, he has also served as a forensic expert in the field of genetics, specializing in DNA analysis.
At DNA Day 2025, he will present a lecture titled “The Unexpected Story of DNA: Unveiling the Past Through Archaeogenetics.”
Lecture Annotation: When the structure of DNA was first described in 1953, no one could have imagined that it could be preserved for hundreds or even thousands of years in ancient bones—or even in sediments. Let alone that it could be extracted and analyzed. The idea that DNA could serve as an archaeological source, providing direct evidence of extinct species, ancient human migrations, or lost civilizations, was far beyond the limits of scientific imagination at the time. Yet, against all expectations, fragments of so-called archaic (“ancient”) DNA have endured, and their analysis now allows us to reconstruct history and prehistory in unprecedented detail. This lecture will explore the fascinating discoveries brought about by this revolutionary field.
Marta Lukačišinová, PhD.
At DNA Day 2025, she will present a lecture titled “Why Antibiotics Sometimes Don’t Work and What the Microbiome Has to Do with It.”
RNDr. Regina Sepšiová, PhD.
Slovak geneticist working at the Department of Genetics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava. She is a member of the Laboratory of Comparative and Functional Genomics of Eukaryotic Organelles. Her research focuses on the study of telomeres and telomeric proteins, which ensure genome stability, as well as the evolution of telomeric proteins in yeast. In recognition of her teaching activities, she was awarded the Commemorative Certificate of the Rector of Comenius University in 2021 on the occasion of Student Day.
At DNA Day 2025, she will present a lecture titled “How Evolution Works.”
Lecture Annotation: What was Lamarck wrong about, and what are the main principles of Darwin’s theory of evolution? We will discuss how natural selection works, clarify whether selection or chance plays a role in evolution, and demonstrate that evolution can even be observed in real-time.
Assoc. prof. MSc. Michal Pastorek, PhD.
Slovak molecular biologist working at the Institute of Molecular Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava. He has completed scientific research internships at the University of Gembloux in Belgium and at Harvard Medical School in the United States. His research focuses on neutrophils, innate immune cells that form DNA networks, known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), during inflammation. He is currently studying this phenomenon in the context of sepsis pathology, supported by the prestigious European HORIZON grant, which is part of the BEATsepsis consortium.
At DNA DAY 2025, he will present the lecture – “DNA Goes to Battle: The Immune System’s Secret Weapon.”
Lecture Annotation: Did you know that our DNA is not just a carrier of genetic information but can also be used by the immune system as a weapon to defend our body? In this lecture, we will explore the fascinating story of DNA traps (NETs) – sticky webs created by immune cells to capture and eliminate bacteria. We will uncover how NETs are formed, their crucial role in immunity, and why it becomes a problem when they spiral out of control.