Understanding basic biology using outbred genetics - Lecture by Ewan Birney

There is increasing ability to collect phenotypic data in the context of genotype data. This phenotype data ranges from molecular data sets at the cellular level, such as RNA expression, chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding, to whole animal phenotypes, such as morphometric measurements, imaging based measurements and disease status. These phenotypes can be collected in a variety of different species – most obviously human but also laboratory species (such as flies or fish) where there are available population panels.

In my talk I will outline the research in exploring the correlations between these phenotypes and genotypes. Correlative approaches are particularly powerful when genotype data is introduced, as the vast majority of genotypes do not change over the lifetime of individuals; thus any association to genotypes must have the causality in only one direction. I will illustrate this research in a human study of the transcription factor CTCF in lymphoblastoid cell lines. During this study we serendipitously discovered a radical difference in CTCF behaviour during X-inactivation, highlighting the role of this transcription factor in chromatin structure.

Finally I will outline the strategic role of EBI and Elixir databases, drawing from this research experience, and the importance of an information infrastructure in the context of life science.

Ewan Birney, European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK.

The event starts with a snack and refreshments in advance of the lecture that begins at 15.15 (Thursday 19th September at VilVite, auditorium)

The lecture is open to all. Welcome!

Interested in upcoming Horizon lectures? Send an e-mail to Kristin Bakken to receive information by e-mail in advance of lectures.

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