Molecular Mysteries: Cracking the Codes of the Body

I'm trying to develop a new method to identify blood cancers by designing probes against the recombined gene segments that make the antibody sequence or the T cell receptor. This can tell use new information about the variability within an individual's cancer.

Have you ever wondered why doctors are so obsessed with blood pressure? For people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), it's more than just a number – it's a clue to their heart health. SCI can cause wild swings in blood pressure, like a rollercoaster at Alton Towers! These ups and downs are linked to heart disease. Using 24-hour monitors, scientists are uncovering hidden patterns and exploring new ways to keep people healthier for longer. Come hear how tech and research are helping protect the health of people living with SCI!

There are about 2 meters of DNA in each one of our cells that needs to be stored in the nucleus that is only 0.000006 meters in diameter. This is the equivalent of stuffing 40km of fine thread into a tennis ball!  In order to achieve this compaction DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones. This packaging not only allows the DNA to fit into the cell but also allows portions of the DNA to be accessed when needed. We are interested in a single mutation that occurs on one of these histones and how this mutation might be causing cancer.