Replication arrest, restart and genome instability

A single human cell contains approximately 12,000,000,000 DNA bases, which must each be accurately copied uncountable times during development. To maintain an adult, this copying occurs billions of times daily. DNA replication is remarkably accurate, but errors do occur and the subsequent genetic alterations can result in genetic and somatic disorders such as cancer. Professor Carr aims to understand the specific mechanisms underlying replication-dependent genomic instability. With a major focus on restarted replication forks, he will combine classical and molecular genetics with super-resolution microscopy to explore new concepts in genome stability. He will establish new assays to understand replication dynamics and novel experimental systems, to explore the nature and consequences of restarted replication forks and how they merge with active replication forks.