Novel 3D maps show how genes interact in several types of immune cells
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how our small genetic differences can have a tremendous effect on how our bodies respond to disease.
The difference is within us. We can get infected by the same bacteria or viruses, but the ways our diseases progress can be very different.
Vivek Chandra, Ph.D, Instructor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Genetic variations are important, but there s more to the puzzle. To truly understand how genes affect health, researchers need to track down the switches (also called enhancers ) that control when and where a gene is expressed in the body.
New 3-D maps reveal inner workings of immune cell gene expression medicalxpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from medicalxpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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IMAGE: Enhancers serve as specific switches that turn on genes in a cell specific manner but it has been difficult to determine which switch is connected to which gene. view more
Credit: Alex Fung
LA JOLLA The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how our small genetic differences can have a tremendous effect on how our bodies respond to disease. The difference is within us, says Vivek Chandra, Ph.D., an instructor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). We can get infected by the same bacteria or viruses, but the ways our diseases progress can be very different.
Genetic variations are important, but there s more to the puzzle. To truly understand how genes affect health, researchers need to track down the switches (also called enhancers ) that control when and where a gene is expressed in the body.