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The laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms underlying eukaryotic genome stability. Chromosomal rearrangements create genetic variation with both deleterious and advantageous consequences. Karyotypic abnormalities are a hallmark of tumors and hereditary diseases in humans. Chromosome rearrangements are part of programmed genetic modifications for cellular differentiation and development. Additionally, gross DNA rearrangements play a major role in chromosome evolution in eukaryotic organisms. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms leading to chromosomal instability is important for studying human pathology and understanding the fundamental processes that determine the architecture and dynamics of eukaryotic genomes. A key contribution to the field of genome instability is the demonstration that the phenomenon of repeats found in eukaryotic genomes serves as potent sources of genome instability. Specifically, the lab focuses on investigating the fundamental and enigmatic processes by which repetitive sequences adopt non-canonical DNA secondary structures, such as hairpins and cruciforms, which can cause replication arrest, double-strand breaks, and gross chromosomal rearrangements. Using molecular biology approaches, the instability of secondary structure-forming repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and human fibroblasts is investigated.
Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.