A new genetic tool helps researchers uncover the logic of gene regulation
Researchers at EMBL Heidelberg have developed a new genetic tool called mCHIRA to study gene regulation. The method allows scientists to test how specific DNA sequences influence gene activity within a cell.
Why it matters
Advancing the understanding of gene regulation is critical for medical research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating genetic diseases.
by Shreya Ghosh, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
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Add as preferred source mCHIRA, a new method developed by the Krebs Group for this study, allows scientists to insert regulatory DNA sequences into a specific section of the genome and test downstream effects inside the cell. Credit: Daniela Velasco/EMBL The human genome contains more than 20,000 genes. However, at any given time and in a given cell, only a fraction are active. Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg's Krebs Group have developed an innovative experimental approach to understand how cells determine which genes to turn on and when.
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