UCSD Scientists Construct 3-D Genome Structure

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University of California, San Diego scientists in collaboration with the San Diego Supercomputer Center have successfully mapped the genome structure as a three-dimensional image. The image was a first of its kind. The research team was led by Cornelis Murre, professor of biology at UC San Diego and Steve Cutchin, senior scientist for visualization services at San Diego Supercomputer Center [SDSC].

It has remained unclear as to how the genome is organized in three-dimensional space. This is an important issue since the regulation of gene expression is controlled by interactions of genomic elements that are separated by large genomic distances. Thus, our team wanted to determine how the genome is structured within the nucleus,” said Murre.

The team used the gene immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, responsible for generating diverse kinds of antibodies, for the simulation.

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