September 25 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Evgeny Kvon
Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology
University of California, Irvine
“How Variation in Non-Protein-Coding Regions of Our Genomes Contributes to Disease”
Abstract: Our genomes contain crucial yet poorly understood regulatory sequences called enhancers. While the coding sequence of a gene determines the type of protein produced, enhancers control the amount of protein produced and the specific cell types in which production happens. Nearly 90% of genetic variation linked to disease is found in non-coding DNA, with much of it believed to affect enhancer function. So, understanding how enhancers work is vital for making sense of vast genomic data and developing personalized treatments for genetic disorders. We use a combination of mouse genome engineering and genomics tools to tackle two questions in developmental gene regulation: 1. How do enhancers activate their target genes over long genomic distances? and 2. How do mutations in enhancers lead to human disease?
Seminar will be held in person only.
For questions about this event, please contact Mayra Rubio at mrubio3@uci.edu.