During the past few years, the scientific community has experienced an explosion of interest and dedication to epigenetic research. Transcriptional mechanisms were previously analyzed from the naked DNA point of view, but studies today aimed at understanding genome function in a chromatin context is not only acknowledged, but also a requirement. Chromatin is the physical structure in which our genome functions in a regulated and highly organized fashion.
In contrast to the DNA primary sequence, the epigenomes of our cells have a life cycle encompassing changes starting from the gametes, to the fertilized egg, to the different cell types of the embryo, and to the adult individual. Some changes continue as we get old and disabled.
Tomas J. Ekström, professor of Molecular Cellbiology at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, group leader for the Medical Epigenetics group at theCenter for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital. Dr. Ekström took his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the Stockholm University in 1987 with professor Gustav Dallner. He then spent nearly 3 years as a post doc at the Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, with professor Palmer Taylor, studying the transcriptional regulation of the acetylcholine esterase gene. At his return to Sweden in 1990, he became interested in the human insulin-like growth factor 2 gene and its regulation and genomic imprinting in development and cancer. A number of important papers on imprinting and epigenetics were produced in the following years. In 1997, Dr. Ekström was awarded a senior researcher position from the Swedish Cancer Foundation, and in 2002, he became professor at Karolinska Institutet. His primary interest today is the epigenetic etiology of malignant brain tumors, where mechanisms behind altered DNA-methylation is in focus. Dr. Ekström is a nationally and internationally frequently requested lecturer on epigenetics, both by laymen and professionals, and his expertise in epigenetics has created active national and international collaborations in a wide spectrum of disciplines with researchers in oncology, neuro-psychopharmacology, nephrology, virology, pediatrics, geriatrics, and physiology.
BBA - General Subjects
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