Extrachromosomal circular DNA, chromosome evolution & circular DNA in human disease with the Regenberg Lab (Dr Birgitte Regenberg and Dr Sam Keating)

In today's episode we speak to Dr Birgitte Regenberg and Dr Sam
Keating from the Regenberg Lab, University of Copenhagen, about
extrachromosomal circular DNA and it's significance in human
disease.


Circular DNA originates from chromosomes but differs from linear
chromosomes as  they mostly don’t have centromeres - so if a
gene is trapped on a circle, it can amplify its copy number to
much above the normal 2 copies in a few cell cycles. If the gene
is expressed, this means that much more protein is produced than
it should be. 


The Regenberg lab aims to understand how circular DNA is formed,
maintained and how it affects the biology of the cell - thereby
looking at eccDNA growth advantages or disadvantages in things
such as aging and cancer. 


Contact the lab here https://twitter.com/regenberg_lab


Find the labs website here https://www.regenberglab.net/