Description:

The Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics presents:

Thomas Misteli, PhD

NIH Distinguished Investigator
Director, Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

Title: "Order and Disorder in Spatial Genome Organization"

Abstract: The genome is a major physical component of every cell and genomes assume complex three-dimensional architectures in living organisms. Several fundamental principles of genome organization such as the presence of chromatin loops and domains, non-random positions of genomic loci, the presence of sub-nuclear compartments, and the highly dynamic nature of genome architecture, are now recognized as well-established features of genomes. Recent findings based on single-cell analysis suggest that all major genome features are highly heterogeneous amongst individual cells. The variability in genome organization is in line with the inherently stochastic nature of transcription and the balance between order and disorder in genome organization suggest that genomes are selforganizing systems driven by the interplay of structure and function. Disruption of spatial genome organization and nuclear architecture is associated with many disease states including developmental disorders, cancer and aging. The exploration of basic principles of genome organization in the context of disease promises to provide novel insight into fundamental mechanisms of genome function and has the potential to lead to noveldiagnostic and therapeutic applications in a variety of diseases.