Professor Kim Young-Joon Explains Variability of Gene Expression Caused by Epigenetic Regulation The research team of Professor Kim Young-Joon (Department of Biochemistry) has discovered a new cause of variations in gene expression, using bioinformatics. The results of this research were published in the February online issue of Nature Genetics, the foremost journal of genetics. Gene expression is the process through which DNA information becomes RNA, then protein, resulting in its functioning within a cell. Even with the same type of protein, the expression can differ greatly according to the cell, the tissue, or the organ in which it occurs. For example, the cells that are generated from stem cells share identical DNA but become different cells due to the difference in the amount of individual proteins. Gene expression is also linked to diseases such as cancer. Epigenics is an area which has come to gain the spotlight recently. It is based on the hypothesis that exterior factors such as aging or the environment may be the main agent behind various gene expressions. Epigenetic factors do not affect the DNA itself but changes the nucleosome, a structure surrounding the DNA. However, it had not been researched as to how much gene expression variation could be caused by epigenetic factors. Research Shows that Epigenetic Regulation has Central Role in Variation and Evolution of Gene Expression Professor Kim’s results are especially meaningful in that it has demonstrated the effect of the environment on gene expression. This will provide the scientific world with a new light with which to view things. “The results of this research which was conducted here in Korea,” Professor Kim said, “will serve as a crucial piece of evidence in areas including genetics, the affect of the environment, the mechanism through which illnesses are induced, and research regarding the stem cell”. The team’s research has shown that extending the research to individuals to focus on the effect of different epigenetic factors (which differs by individuals) and gene expression variation is possible. Also, this new discovery shows that Yonsei has a chance of gaining international recognition in the areas of biology and bioinformatics, areas which had been less developed in comparison to others.