Molecular neuroscience has largely focused on the functions of protein-coding genes, which account for less than 2% of our DNA. Repetitive elements – including viral-like sequences called transposons – comprise more than half the human genome, but limitations in sequencing technologies and other molecular tools have left many REs overlooked – so-called ‘genomic dark matter’. This is an important mechanistic blind spot: REs are dynamic stretches of DNA that can mobilise or duplicate, and impact transcriptional programs. REs are the main source of individual genetic variation. When their dynamics are not controlled, REs cause severe neurological disorders.
In the Lab of Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics (https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/research-groups/douse) we are interested in how this genomic dark matter is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms during human brain development and degeneration. We have a particular focus on how different protein complexes package repetitive DNA into chromatin, and how chromatin influences transcriptional dynamics. We combine chromatin biochemistry with functional (epi)genomics in neural stem cell models.
We have multiple projects running in this area, based at BMC B11, and space for 1-2 students. The project would start in the autumn term but we are open to later start dates e.g. if there are additional courses that the student would like to take to prepare.
We are open to designing thesis projects that are wet-lab-only or dry-lab only, or a combination thereof. For the latter, it would be necessary that you have at least some knowledge of how to run basic operations from a command line. If you would like a dry-lab only project, we will prioritise students from the Bioinformatics Masters programme.
If you have any questions you are welcome to email me directly at christopher.douse@med.lu.se
*Please get in touch as soon as possible since we would like to have the student(s) lined up well in advance of the summer break 2024.*