Dissertation
Gene regulation in embryonic development
The human body consists of hundreds, perhaps thousands of different types of cells, each with different morphologies and functions, despite having the same genome.
- Author
- Berg, P.R. van den
- Date
- 19 May 2021
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
The human body consists of hundreds, perhaps thousands of different types of cells, each with different morphologies and functions, despite having the same genome. This diversity is created by gene regulation, a set of mechanisms that determine, which genes are used to make proteins and which genes are kept silent. During embryonic development, gene are turned on and off in a tightly orchestrated manner, to make sure that the right cell type is created at the right time and place.
In this thesis we report several studies pertaining to gene regulation in embryonic development. Each of the four chapters will cover a different layer of the gene regulation toolbox: gene inactivation by DNA methylation, transcriptional regulation in the developing kidney, regulation of protein turnover and translational regulation through micro-RNAs. Together, these studies provide a refined understanding of the crucial role of gene regulation for embryonic development.