Princeton Researchers Show How Junk DNA Activates Genes (2 of 2) (IMAGE)

Princeton University

Princeton Researchers Show How Junk DNA Activates Genes (2 of 2)

Caption

Using an imaging technique developed at Princeton, researchers captured the moment when a segment of DNA -- from genetic material that was once thought to be useless junk -- turns on a target gene. Here, a time series of images reveals how a DNA segment known as an enhancer can turn on, or activate, its target gene. The enhancer (blue) must come in close proximity to the gene (green) to turn on gene activity (pink).

Credit

Hongtao Chen, Princeton University

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