Summary of the science
During development, our body undergoes various changes, and genes need to be turned on or off at the right time and in the right place. A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building and functioning of specific traits or characteristics in an organism. Enhancers are like switches that control gene activity, so they can turn them on and off. They can interact with genes from far away and tell them when and where to be active.
About the research
The Furlong group conducts research on the fundamental principles of genome regulation, particularly in relation to cell fate decisions during development. They investigate the organisational and functional properties of the genome, with a focus on the role of enhancers, which are regulatory elements that control gene expression patterns. They generated a high-resolution map of enhancer three-dimensional contacts during Drosophila embryogenesis, encompassing two developmental stages and tissue contexts. The map provided unprecedented resolution, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the spatial interactions between enhancers.
About the illustration
The Drosophila embryo became the main focus of the illustration, as this is the model organism used. The chromatin can be seen inside the embryo, with white dots signifying the enhancers. We used alternating lines for the chromatin to give off the impression that is is located within a three-dimensional space.