How are the genome’s dynamics and plasticity involved in health or disease?

Project summary

The genome’s 3D structure and internal interactions are determinants of gene activity and the intervening non‐coding parts of the chromosomal DNA, for example enhancers, play an important role to shape these structures. Despite the tremendous progress that has recently been made, the 3D dynamics of the genome (which can vary from cell to cell) is still quite obscure, as our understanding is primarily based on static observations on large cell pools. Accordingly, a multidisciplinary team and a biotechnology company have set themselves a number of ambitious targets in this regard. These involve working out the structure and dynamics of the genome in normal and abnormal (diseased) cells, through the development of integrated biochemical methods and advanced microscopy techniques.