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Chromosome organization: The quest for entanglement simplicity

Mathematical Biology

Speaker: Javier Arsuaga, Departments of Mathematics and of Molecular & Cellular Biology, UC Davis
Related Webpage: https://arsuaga-vazquez-lab.faculty.ucdavis.edu/team-details/javier-arsuaga/
Location: 2112 MSB
Start time: Mon, Oct 7 2019, 3:10PM

Genomes are highly condensed in all organisms. Some theoretical and experimental studies show that condensation of linear and circular genomes induces DNA entanglement. Experimental assays have also shown that DNA entanglement blocks basic DNA transactions such as transcription and replication.

How evolution has solved the problem of entanglement of genomes remains to be understood. In this talk, I will discuss genome organization in viruses, bacteria, mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes and yeast and discuss how different mathematical and data analysis methods can be used to address this question.