Prof Julian Blow

Division of Gene Regulation and Expression
University of Dundee
Dundee

How do cells copy their DNA accurately?

Professor Julian Blow at the University of Dundee is investigating how cells copy their DNA accurately. Each time a cell divides in two, it must make an exact copy of its DNA so that each daughter cell can inherit a complete set of cell instructions. If this process is faulty, mutations start to appear in the DNA and these can lead to cancer.

Professor Blow's team are studying the 'checks and balances' that go on within cells to safeguard against these errors. They are particularly focusing on how these processes go wrong in cancer. This work may lead to better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating different types of cancer.