Genentech

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     DNA is the genetic blueprint of life and is found in every organ and every cell.  A cell in the liver has the same DNA as the cell in the heart so how is that every type of cell has a different function despite having the same set of instructions?  Shouldn’t all of the them be the same and behave in the same manner?

     The answer to this can be found in the epigenome.  The epigenome is what controls the genes that are encoded in our DNA and ultimately determines gene expression.  If I were to give you string that was 1-mile-long and told you to put it in box; how would you do it?  The easiest way will be to roll the string into a ball and then store it.  This is precisely how the DNA is stored inside of cells.  It is wrapped around proteins called histones and is why such a long molecule can be easily compacted into a small cell.  But now what if I tell you that the string that I gave you had colored portions and I told you to cut out for me every portion of the string that was the color red.  Would you be able to do it?  Of course not.  This is similar to what happens to DNA.  It is wrapped around proteins and its expression is determined by the amount that is exposed.  If a certain part of the DNA is not open, then that portion will not be expressed. 

Since DNA is wound around the proteins, its expression is dependent on how much of the DNA is exposed.  What can influence these stressful situations.  This is the reason why even maternal twins are never 100 percent alike.  They each experience a different situations and different kinds of stresses and hence have different expression of genes.  Now image if you could control this, would that be amazing.

     Well this is precisely what researchers at Genentech did.  They have developed a way to control the expression of genes by controlling the ability of proteins to wind the DNA.  They can essentially expose certain parts of DNA to get certain results.  With this breakthrough, researchers will be able to control the expression of genes which can lead to the elimination of many genetic disorders.