Research

Image removed.Cellular responses to environmental change

Cells must express the correct genes to the correct level to thrive in any given environment. This may or may not be possible given their existing genetic information. Our research questions are:

  • How do cells decide which genes to express?
  • How is this decision influenced by epigenetic memory?
  • Can cells alter their genomes in the face of environmental challenges?
  • Do young and old cells react in the same way?

 

We focus on molecular mechanisms that link a cell's perception of the environment to its genome:

  • Control of gene expression and regulatory non-coding RNAs

  • Histone modifications and chromatin structure

  • Replication and recombination

Overall, we ask how cells process information about their environment to yield the appropriate gene expression response, and how this information is applied as they adapt to challenging new environments