Locating and analyzing genetic switches in the genome

Tae Hoon Kim

The human genome is predominantly composed of non-protein coding sequences (>98%) whose function remains largely undefined. A significant portion of the non-coding DNA is believed to serve as transcriptional regulatory elements that control how and when the coding fraction of the genome is used by a cell. Although multiple experimental and computational methods are available for identifying these elements, it remains difficult to determine those elements relevant for human biology and disease. I will present ongoing work in my lab to address some of these difficulties. By utilizing a battery of experimental and bioinformatic approaches, we are analyzing insulators and enhancers of transcription and their role in cancers.