Genome Instability

DNA is the most fundamental molecule of life. The entire complement of DNA in our cells forms the genome, which provides the biological blueprint for who and what we are. Unfortunately, our genomes are constantly under attack. These assaults come from both outside forces in the form of radiation, carcinogens, and viruses, as well as internally from malfunctioning machinery within our own cells. Although we may not always realize it, Genome Instability greatly affects many aspects of our lives. Cancer, infertility, and aging are all heavily impacted by the accumulation of mutations in cells over time. Furthermore, the entire history of life itself and the evolution of new species are determined by how frequently and where mutations occur in the genome. Understanding how cells deal with damage to DNA and chromosomes and what happens when they fail to do so is a pressing problem and is the focus of this new doctoral school. This doctoral program consists of 9 group leaders from 3 different institutions, all located at the Vienna Biocenter. Genome instability occurs at a wide range of scales. Damage can occur at single nucleotides that form the basic building blocks of DNA. It can also occur at the scale of DNA compaction, where 2 meters in length of DNA must fit into each one of our tiny cells. Genome instability even occurs for entire chromosomes, where the best-known example is a third copy of chromosome 21 leading to Down Syndrome. Importantly, it is becoming increasingly clear that these levels of instability are interconnected, and a deep knowledge of all of them is essential for modern approaches to understand genome instability. Therefore, the research that will be conducted in this program covers this entire range of scale, from DNA damage, to DNA compaction, and the segregation of chromosomes into daughter cells during division. This will enable a comprehensive view that is now necessary for modern research on genome instability. One of the most important features of our cohort of researchers is our expertise in a variety of model organisms, including bacteria, yeast, worms, plants, mice, and human cells. This level of diversity among model systems used to tackle shared questions is made possible by the universal nature of DNA structure and the types of damage that occur to the genome. In addition, all organisms seek to preserve the integrity of their genomes, and the mechanisms that prevent mutations are often conserved across the entire tree of life. Importantly, each of these model systems have their own strengths and weaknesses, and combining results from different species reveals conserved mechanisms. This program will establish a hub in Vienna for genome instability research that will add considerable value to the community and the students. For more information, please visit genomeinstability.org.