ABOUT PETAR PAJIC

Contributing to the science, one puzzle piece at a time.

I am a Ph.D. candidate conducting research in evolutionary genetics in the lab of Dr. Omer Gokcumen at the University at Buffalo. I am broadly curious in understanding how genomic structural variants, commonly found in human genomes, contribute to evolution and disease susceptibility.

Google Scholar | Full CV

Petar received his B.S. and M.S. from the University at Buffalo in Biological Sciences. He has extensive clinical/surgical experiences having done several internships at hospitals, and has conducted years of research in Oral Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Stefan Ruhl. Together this is creating a well-rounded background necessary for coupling health and genetics.

Petar’s working thesis pertains to understanding the variation and evolution of mucins, genes that make mucus that are heavily involved in several disease phenotypes.

Read about Petar’s work
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Emergence of saliva protein genes in the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) locus and accelerated evolution in primates

Abstract Genes within the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) family evolved in conjunction with major evolutionary milestones: the…

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Ancient AMY1 gene duplications primed the amylase locus for adaptive evolution upon the onset of agriculture

Abstract: Starch digestion is a cornerstone of human nutrition. The amylase enzyme, which digests starch, plays a key role in starch metabolism…

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Recent writings:

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New paper: Independent amylase gene duplications

Stefan (Ruhl) and Omer Gokcumen recently published a comprehensive survey of the amylase gene copy number and salivary enzyme activity among mammalian…

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Suggested readings:

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Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna spoke at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle about strategies to improve CRISPR gene editing and delivery to help make CRISPR-based gene therapies cheaper and easier to access.

Nobel laureate and CRISPR pioneer Jennifer A. Doudna, PhD, spoke at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, sharing advancements in gene-editing therapies. Her lab is refining CRISPR to improve efficiency, affordability, and delivery methods, such as miniEDVs for in-body editing. Doudna advocates for ethical policies and wider accessibility of therapies like Casgevy, a CRISPR-based sickle cell treatment. Her work emphasizes collaboration across science, regulation, and manufacturing.

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Ruth Lehmann argues that intellectual freedom for scientists unconstrained by commercial interests fuels unexpected discoveries.

Ruth Lehmann discusses 25 years of developmental biology progress, emphasizing curiosity-driven research’s importance. She advocates for robust funding, highlighting basic science’s role in healthcare breakthroughs and stressing the need for intellectual freedom in scientific exploration for societal progress.

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Footnotes

Info relevant to my research and life.

Congratulations to Oliver Zinaja from Williamsville’s Miller Tenis Center for being a trophy holder at the 2023 US Open Men’s Singles Final and for having his picture taken with the Djoker! Oliver also got Djokovic’s shoe! Way to go our boy!

Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to to win 2023 US Open, his 24th Grand Slam title. At age 36, he is the oldest Grand Slam winner cementing his place as one of the sport’s greatest players, if not the GOAT himself!

2023 International Prize for Biology has been awarded to Dr. Richard Durbin, Al Kindi Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK, for making invaluable contributions to the field of genome biology, such as recent research projects that have aimed to comprehensively sequence the genomes of a wide variety of the earth’s organisms.

Djokovic defeats Alcaraz in what is certain to be called a Cincinnati classic to win his 39th Masters title.

GLAM-Evogen 2023 is happening Aug 19 @Cornell.

University of Colorado, Boulder professor Fernando Villanea will be visiting Gokcumen Lab from from August 14th to 21st.

Gokcumen Lab publishes a new paper: Odd interactions between short RNAs and structural variation.

UB professors and forensic dentist Mary Bush publish commentary outlining problems with bitemark evidence can send wrong person to prison

Petar wins SMBE Young Investigator Travel Award, SMBE23 Ferrara, Italy

Biology will relate every human gene to the genes of other animals and bacteria, to this great chain of being.

Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.

So we find that the three possible solutions of the great problem of increasing human energy are answered by the three words: food, peace, work.

Crystals are living beings at the beginning of creation.

Each day we go to our work in the hope of discovering.

Novak Djokovic wins 2023 French Open and secures his 23rd Grand Slam title, the most in Open Era.

Footnotes

Info relevant to my research and life.

Congratulations to Oliver Zinaja from Williamsville’s Miller Tenis Center for being a trophy holder at the 2023 US Open Men’s Singles Final and for having his picture taken with the Djoker! Oliver also got Djokovic’s shoe! Way to go our boy!

Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to to win 2023 US Open, his 24th Grand Slam title. At age 36, he is the oldest Grand Slam winner cementing his place as one of the sport’s greatest players, if not the GOAT himself!

2023 International Prize for Biology has been awarded to Dr. Richard Durbin, Al Kindi Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK, for making invaluable contributions to the field of genome biology, such as recent research projects that have aimed to comprehensively sequence the genomes of a wide variety of the earth’s organisms.

Djokovic defeats Alcaraz in what is certain to be called a Cincinnati classic to win his 39th Masters title.

GLAM-Evogen 2023 is happening Aug 19 @Cornell.

University of Colorado, Boulder professor Fernando Villanea will be visiting Gokcumen Lab from from August 14th to 21st.

Gokcumen Lab publishes a new paper: Odd interactions between short RNAs and structural variation.

UB professors and forensic dentist Mary Bush publish commentary outlining problems with bitemark evidence can send wrong person to prison

Petar wins SMBE Young Investigator Travel Award, SMBE23 Ferrara, Italy

Biology will relate every human gene to the genes of other animals and bacteria, to this great chain of being.

Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.

Novak Djokovic wins 2023 French Open and secures his 23rd Grand Slam title, the most in Open Era.

The discovery of an important need is almost as important as the invention which satisfies this need.

So astounding are the facts in this connection, that it would seem as though the Creator, himself had electrically designed this planet.

Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science – in all of biology.

Our entire biological system, the brain, and the Earth itself, work on the same frequencies.

Our entire biological system, the brain, and the Earth itself, work on the same frequencies.

I disagree with those who argue that evolutionary biology and the existence of God are incompatible.

Djokovic comes full circle and wins 2023 Australian Open earning his 22nd Grand Slam title

Svante Pääbo wins the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution.

Rhul Lab publishes a new paper on the origin of mammalian tooth classes and show how the interplay between multiple developmental mechanisms facilitates tooth diversification during evolution

Steve Jobs: I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology. A new era is beginning.

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