Reviewing Advances in Modeling and Gene Correction

of Chromosomal Structural Variations

 

 

 

A group of Yonsei researchers headed by Physiology Professor Dong-Wook Kim has published two important review articles on advances in the modeling and gene correction of chromosomal structural variations (SVs). SVs contribute to human evolution and genetic diversity, but they can also cause diseases such as hemophilia. The articles were published in Nature Protocols, a sister journal of Nature, and Trends in Biotechnology, a sister journal of Cell.

 

In recent years, the journals Cell Stem Cell, Cell Reports, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences have reported on Professor Kim’s research into chromosomal SVs and gene therapies. He has also given keynote addresses at the National Hemophilia Foundation and the Korean Society for Stem Cell Research.

 

Of his work in the field, Dr. Kim said: “While SVs contribute to genetic diversity and evolution, some SVs can cause diseases like hemophilia, Huntington’s disease, Hunter syndrome, and cancer in humans. However, as genome engineering technology using programmable nucleaseshas rapidly developed, it has enabled genome editing for SV research. This technology has expanded our understanding of the mechanisms of SVs, while increasing our ability to treat SV-related diseases and find new drug treatments.”