Research summary
The proper organization of the genome is crucial for regulating genes. Scientists have developed a good understanding of how genes and their regulators interact on the same chromosome, but much less is known about contacts between different chromosomes: their molecular mechanisms remain elusive and obscure. Determining how inter-chromosomal contacts form and how they affect normal and disease states is critical to developing a better understanding of biology and what causes disease.
Dr. Philipp Maass, Canada Research Chair in Non-coding Disease Mechanisms, is addressing this challenge using state-of-the-art systems biology. With a bedside-to-bench approach, he and his research team are focusing on regions of the non-coding genome that affect development and disease mechanisms. Ultimately, their work may lead to deeper knowledge of the aetiologies of disease.