Epigenetics and ‘Junk’ DNA

Speaker: Professor Nessa Carey
Visiting Professor Imperial College

Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence itself. Environmental factors often drive these changes and involve chemical modifications, For instance, epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for cell differentiation—despite having identical DNA, a neuron and a skin cell look and behave very differently due to epigenetic regulation.
The term “junk DNA” was historically used to describe the large portions of the genome that do not code for proteins, which seemed to have no apparent function. However, with the rise of more advanced genomic studies, it became clear that non-coding regions play critical regulatory roles and are involved in epigenetic mechanisms.
Nessa Carey’s style is widely appreciated for its clarity, accessibility, and ability to make complex scientific concepts understandable and engaging to a broad audience; so come, join us and enjoy.
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