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. 2011 Feb;304(2):66-73.
doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican0211-66.

The inner life of the genome

Tom Misteli  1
Affiliations

The inner life of the genome

Tom Misteli. Sci Am. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Chromosomes are not sprinkled randomly around the inside of the nucleus. They occupy preferred positions.

This nuclear organization reflects the functional state of each chromosome and of the genes it carries. The organization can change as a cell’s behavior changes and in disease.

Identifying the locations that genes occupy within the nucleus—and seeing how these positions change under different conditions—is providing clues to how normal cells function and how some diseases, including cancer, arise.

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References

    1. The Cell Nucleus and Aging: Tantalizing Clues and Hopeful Promises. Scaffidi Paola, Gordon Leslie and Misteli Tom in PLoS Biology, Vol. 3, No. 11, e395; November 2005. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cell Biology: Chromosome Territories. Meaburn Karen J. and Misteli Tom in Nature, Vol. 445, pages 379–381; January 25, 2007. - PubMed
    1. Beyond the Sequence: Cellular Organization of Genome Function. Misteli Tom in Cell, Vol. 128, No. 4, pages 787–800; February 2007. - PubMed
    1. Dynamic Genome Architecture in the Nuclear Space: Regulation of Gene Expression in Three Dimensions. Lanctôt Christian et al. in Nature Reviews Genetics, Vol. 8, No. 2, pages 104–115; February 2007. - PubMed
    1. Comprehensive Mapping of Long-Range Interactions Reveals Folding Principles of the Human Genome. Lieberman-Aiden Erez et al. in Science, Vol. 326, pages 289–293; October 9, 2009. - PMC - PubMed

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