Abstract

I will begin with a brief introduction to the Randall-Sundrum (RS)
models
which use a warped extra dimension to solve the Planck-weak hierarchy
problem of the SM.
Then, I will sketch how profiles for fermions in this extra dimension
can explain also the hierarchies of quark and lepton masses (and mixing
angles), without
leading to too large flavor violation in contradiction with experiments.
I will show that these fermion profiles modify running of SM gauge
couplings (from
that in the SM) in such a way that we obtain gauge coupling unification
at the few
percent level in a grand unified model. Finally, I will show that
requiring proton
stability in this grand unified model can lead to a stable fermion
which is a good dark matter
candidate. Thus, this framework is as compelling as SUSY!