Functional dissection of the eukaryotic replisome. (360G-Wellcome-102943_Z_13_Z)

Sixty years after Watson and Crick first described the structure of DNA, we still have much to learn about how our genetic blueprint is preserved from one generation to the next. All of life starts out as one single cell, which then divides many times during the development of complicated creatures such as human beings. In order to survive cell division, every cell must make a perfect copy of the chromosomes, which each contain a single DNA molecule that is wrapped up with many proteins. We a re studying the molecular machinery that allows cells to achieve this remarkable feat, and we want to address some fundamental questions regarding the mechanisms and regulation of chromosome duplication. The answers turn out to be important for our understanding of the origins and treatment of human cancer.