Genome Biology

Eileen Furlong
Joint Head of Unit

Lars Steinmetz
Joint Head of Unit

The genome encodes the genetic blueprint that coordinates all cellular processes, which ultimately give rise to phenotype. The expression of genetic information is tightly regulated in both time and space at multiple steps, including at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. The Genome Biology Unit takes a systems biology approach to unravel these complex processes at all scales, integrating wet-lab and computational approaches.

In eukaryotes, many steps of gene expression, such as transcription and RNA processing, take place in the structurally complex environment of the nucleus and often involve remodelling of chromatin into active and inactive states. Messenger RNAs, once exported from the nucleus, undergo additional steps of regulation. Their translation results in the production of proteins, whose functions define the characteristics of different cell types, or cellular phenotypes. However, not all RNAs are translated. In recent years multiple types of non-coding RNAs have been discovered with diverse functionality. Genetic variation, affecting the function of genes at any level, results in abnormal phenotypes, often leading to diseases such as cancer. Groups within the unit are tackling various aspects of genome biology, often developing new enabling technologies.

A particular strength of the unit is its ability to address questions at different scales ranging from detailed mechanistic studies (using biochemistry and genetics), to genome-wide studies (using functional genomic, proteomic and computational approaches) to understand the processes leading from genotype to phenotype. Global, dynamic and quantitative measurements of biological molecules at all levels (DNA, RNA, proteins, cells, organisms, etc) as well as the integration of hypothesis and discovery-driven research characterise the unit. The synergy between computational and wet-lab groups provides a very interactive and collaborative environment to yield unprecedented insights into how genetic information is ‘read’ and mediates phenotype through molecular networks.

Eileen Furlong and Lars Steinmetz
Joint Heads of the Genome Biology Unit