Gary Karpen Research Group

The lab studies biocondensate formation and phase separation in heterochromatin using Drosophila and human cells to probe 3D chromatin organization. Researchers combine advanced imaging, chemical and biochemical experiments, and theoretical biophysics to test how emergent biophysical properties impact genome organization. They use inducible single DSB systems and genetic analysis to examine how chromatin states influence homologous recombination and NHEJ pathway choice. The group analyzes centromere haplotypes and satellite-derived AAGAG RNAs to link sequence variation and repeat transcripts to chromosome behavior and fertility.