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Finkelstein studies how organisms maintain genomic integrity and the implications of cancer viruses, such as COVID-19, on mutation. His research examines how COVID-19 mutations impact the severity of disease, the speed of transmission, and the efficacy of vaccines and therapies. He views genomic DNA as the blueprint of life, emphasizing the complexity of protein machines that maintain genetic material. The defining feature of cancers is genomic instability, which arises from defects in proteins responsible for DNA maintenance. Elucidating the mechanisms behind DNA maintenance is fundamental to understanding the molecular basis of various cancer types. His interdisciplinary research program blends single-molecule biophysics, molecular biology, and micro-/nano-scale engineering to understand how organisms maintain genomic integrity. This research aims to increase understanding of this essential problem and to develop new techniques that allow for real-time observation of key biochemical reactions that occur with DNA.
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