Mechanistic modeling of chromatin folding to understand function

CA Brackey and D Marenduzzo and N Gilbert, NATURE METHODS, 17, 767-775 (2020).

DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0852-6

This Perspective highlights recently developed computational models for studying chromosome organization, with a focus on how mechanistic modeling helps biologists to interpret the biological function behind the genome structures. Experimental approaches have been applied to address questions in understanding three-dimensional chromatin organization and function. As datasets increase in size and complexity, it becomes a challenge to reach a mechanistic interpretation of experimental results. Polymer simulations and mechanistic modeling have been applied to explain experimental observations and their links to different aspects of genome function. Here we provide a guide for biologists, explaining different simulation approaches and the contexts in which they have been used.

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