Work

Endless forms – how genome organization underlies evolution and development

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Within the nucleus of each human cell, ∼2 m of linear DNA is compacted and organized. The structures and principles of genome organization are developmentally regulated and broadly evolutionarily conserved. However, conclusive links between genome structure and function have been difficult to find. In this Review, we provide an overview of mammalian genome organization, highlight recent studies demonstrating how it interacts with evolutionary diversity, and explore its contributions to development. We propose an innovative perspective - that variability in genome organization supports plastic cell fates in multicellular organisms - and draw analogies to show how evolutionary variation can inform study of the function of genome organization.

Source: Journal of Cell Science

DOI: 10.1242/jcs.264059

Authors: Alexandra N. Edwards, Elizabeth H. Finn

Institution: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: Expanding Excellence in Developmental Biology in Oklahoma