Anna Mischel '18, Neuroscience (Honors)

Single Cell Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin Sequencing in Glioblastoma

(GBM) is the most common brain cancer, however with current treatment the 5-year survival rate is just 5%. GBM is so hard to treat because it is a heterogeneous cancer, meaning that each cell contains different mutations and alterations to the DNA organization within the nucleus. To better understand GBM, I used a cutting edge technique called single cell transposase accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) to interrogate the organization of DNA, which we call chromatin architecture. Understanding how and in what ways the chromatin is differentially disorganized in cancers may provide avenues to specific treatments for those suffering with GBM.