A new study by physicists has revealed how loops of DNA affect gene expression in chromosomes. The findings, published in Nature Physics, explain how loops in chromosomes control the activation of genes and could have implications for understanding the development of diseases such as cancer.

Physicists have been studying the shape of chromosomes for years, but this new study is the first to look at how the loops of DNA contained within them affect gene expression. By analyzing data from the Human Genome Project, the researchers were able to make a 3D map of the chromosome and trace the loops of DNA within it. They showed that when these loops are broken or opened, it triggers the activation of genes. In addition, they revealed that the loops act as a barrier to keep certain parts of the chromosome from being expressed, providing a mechanism for controlling gene expression. The findings provide new insight into the regulation of gene expression and could have implications for understanding how diseases such as cancer develop.

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source: Phys.org