Understanding how the information in the genome is utilized is one of the central questions in modern biology. It has become clear that a critical level of gene regulation occurs through the chemical modification of both the DNA itself...
My research is focused on pushing the limits of single-molecule detection methods to study complex biological systems. His group develops state-of-the-art biophysical techniques (e.g., multicolor fluorescence, super-resolution imaging, combined force and fluorescence spectroscopy, vesicular encapsulation, single-molecule pull-down) and applies...
The vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) is an amazingly complex structure composed of distinct subtypes of neurons and glia. Our lab aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that control the generation of the major cell types of the vertebrate...
Eukaryotic cells package their genomes in the form of chromatin, which is comprised of histone proteins and DNA. Modification of chromatin by chemical marks such as methylation and acetylation affects how cellular machineries interpret the genome. The Taverna laboratory...
Protein function is dynamically regulated in the cell by reversible posttranslational modifications. We are interested in the mechanism by which chromatin modifications regulate transcription, nucleosome dynamics and the response to DNA damage. A particular focus is on the non-degradative...
What are cellular and molecular mechanisms that control tissue regeneration in vivo? Stem cells ensure tissue renewal in most adult tissues, and their activities are under the precise control of signals from specific local microenvironments, or niches. The ability...
The Pevsner lab studies the molecular basis of childhood brain disorders. We focus on chromosomal abnormalities (measured with single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP arrays) as well as genetic variants (measured using whole genome, whole exome, or targeted sequencing). The...
My lab operates at the interface of biology and technology to investigate important questions in biomedical sciences. We develop and apply molecular engineering, genome engineering, and computational approaches to better understand mammalian epigenetics and development. For instance, we engineer...
My lab’s focus is in the development and application of sequencing technologies to gain a deeper understanding of biology and a more accurate set of clinical tools for human disease. We integrate biophysics, molecular biology and computational biology to...