Epigenetic regulation allows genes to be activated or shut down without changing the DNA sequence. This enables different cells with the same genome to express different genes and is essential for differentiation and development. Epigenetic regulation involves mechanisms that affect chromatin and nucleic acid modifications, non-coding RNA, or the position of genes in the nucleus, to name a few. Epigenetic dysregulation is a common hallmark of cancer and is linked to ageing. We seek to understand development, behaviour, ageing and disease by studying the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these biological processes.

Keywords: DNA methylation, histone modifications, nuclear organisation, transposon, piRNA, siRNA, small non-coding RNA, RNA splicing, post-transcriptional regulation, protein homeostasis, protein degradation, RNA modification

Key techniques used: Next-generation sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), bioinformatics, proteomics, microfluidics, cell culture, genetic crosses (complementation), biochemistry, (super-resolution) microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy