MY RESEARCH OVERVIEW (GO TO SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW)
How are genes turned on and off: the fine prints
The human genome contains over 22,000 genes, which remarkably is not too much more than the baker’s yeast or a fruit fly. So what makes humans more complex than the other organisms? The answer lies in the immensely complex and delicate ways by which the human genes are regulated, or turned on and off. Simple glitches in these regulations will result in a protein being made at an abnormal level or at wrong time or wrong place, which in turn can cause diseases such as cancer or neurological disorders. In our laboratory, we are particularly interested in studying two types of gene regulations: those mediated by microRNAs and by DNA methylation. We use computers to compare the molecular information gathered from healthy people and people with diseases, aiming to find what glitches in the genome cause these diseases. Our ultimate goal is to use the information we gained to design better disease diagnostics tools and more precise medical treatments.