Shaping up the genome for cell division
Science Researchers have discovered the mechanism by which a family of DNA motor proteins packages loosely arranged strands of DNA into compact individual chromosomes during cell division.
2022
science
How to remove unwanted components from the cell nucleus
Science Researchers have uncovered how cells remove unwanted components from the nucleus following mitosis.
2020
science
Understanding chromosome organisation
Science EMBL scientists and collaborators help reveal the process by which enormous quantities of DNA are folded into cells.
2020
science
Dancing chromosomes
Picture of the week In human cells, the genetic material is packaged into 23 different DNA molecules, the chromosomes. Each chromosome is present in two copies, one inherited from the paternal sperm, and the other from the maternal egg. During most of the cell’s life, chromosomes take the shape of long,…
2020
picture-of-the-week
How chromosome structure influences development
Science EMBL researchers in the Heard group at EMBL Heidelberg explore the interaction between DNA organisation and gene expression in the early embryo
2020
science
Chromothripsis in human cancer
Science Researchers at Harvard Medical School and EMBL-EBI have carried out the largest analysis across cancer types of the newly discovered mutational phenomenon chromothripsis.
2020
science
Reshaping our DNA
Picture of the week DNA is present in each cell of our body. If all the DNA from one human cell was removed and aligned in a single strand, it would in theory add up to a total length of about two metres. In order to fit into the nucleus of a cell, DNA has to be compressed by […]
2019
picture-of-the-week
Transcriptional hubs confer phenotypic robustness
Science Enhancers in Drosophila embryos gather together to preserve phenotypes under stressful conditions
2019
science
Rearranging chromosomes
Science Does rearranging chromosomes affect their function? EMBL scientists reveal uncoupling of 3D chromatin organisation and gene expression.
2019
science
Intact chromosomes during cell division
Science The mystery of how condensin maintains the integrity of the genome during cell division.
2019
science
Most popular articles of the year: 2018
Lab Matters A collection of the most read articles from the EMBL news website in 2018
2019
lab-matters
Cohesin: a glue for DNA
Science EMBL scientists discover how a component of the cohesin ring binds DNA
2018
science
Welcome: Simone Köhler
Science Which of our genes will be passed on to our children? Simone Köhler wants to find out
2018
science
The scientific origins of Edith Heard
Science EMBL’s next Director General reflects on the questions that drive her research
2018
science
Melina Schuh receives EMBO Gold Medal
Alumni EMBL alumna Melina Schuh recognised for excellence in science
2018
alumni
Exploring genetic variation
Science EMBL group leader Jan Korbel reflects on his scientific origins and current research
2018
science
Counting condensins on chromosomes
Science EMBL scientists count and locate chromosomal proteins during cell duplication
2018
science
Welcome: Sara Cuylen-Häring
Science New EMBL group leader explores biophysical properties of chromosomes and other cellular assemblies
2018
science
Chromosomes don’t need key protein for all their folds
Science New research reveals that two different mechanisms are responsible for chromosome folding
2017
science
Looping the loops: how chromosomes form
Science EMBL researchers and collaborators unravel how chromosomes form
2017
science
Fishing games gone wrong
Science When an egg cell is being formed, the cellular machinery which separates chromosomes is extremely imprecise at fishing them out of the cell’s interior, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have discovered. The unexpected degree of trial-and-error…
2011
science
Keeping it together
Science As any rock-climber knows, trailing a long length of rope behind you is not easy. A dangling length of rope is unwieldy and hard to manoeuvre, and can get tangled up or stuck on an outcropping. Cells face the same problem when dragging chromosomes apart during cell division. The chromosomes are…
2011
science
The informant: a jumping gene
Science Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have developed a new method for studying gene regulation, by employing a jumping gene as an informant. Published online today in Nature Genetics, the new method is called GROMIT. It enables researchers to…
2011
science
X chromosome exposed
Science Researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton, UK, have revealed new insights into how sex chromosomes are regulated. A chromatin modifying enzyme helps compensate for the fact that…
2008
science
A unique arrangement for egg cell division
Science Which genes are passed on from mother to child is decided very early on during the maturation of the egg cell in the ovary. In a cell division process that is unique to egg cells, half of the chromosomes are eliminated from the egg before it is fertilised. Using a powerful microscope, researchers…
2007
science
Researchers shed light on shrinking of chromosomes
Science A human cell contains an enormous 1.8 metres of DNA partitioned into 46 chromosomes. These have to be copied and distributed equally into two daughter cells at every division. Condensation, the shortening of chromosomes, allows the cell to handle such huge amounts of genetic material during cell…
2007
science
A balancing act between the sexes
Science Recent research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) reveals new insights into how cells achieve equality between the sexes. A new link discovered between the membrane surrounding the nucleus and the male X-chromosome in fruit flies may play a crucial role in determining how active…
2006
science
Actin moves chromosomes
Science Microtubules need a helping hand to find chromosomes in dividing egg cells, scientists have discovered. Although it was generally accepted that microtubules act alone as the cellular ropes to pull chromosomes into place, a new study by researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)…
2005
science
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