New technology reveals hidden DNA scaffolding built before life 'switches on'
Phys.org
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
For decades, scientists believed that the genome of a newly fertilized egg was a disorganized "blank slate," waiting for the embryo to activate its genetic instructions. However, groundbreaking research led by Professor Juanma Vaquerizas and his team has revealed that the DNA within these early embryos is far more structured than previously thought. Published in *Nature Genetics*, their study introduces a revolutionary technology called Pico-C, which provides unprecedented detail on the 3D structure of the genome. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about how genetic information is organized and read in the earliest stages of life.
The researchers used Pico-C to map the DNA architecture in fertilized eggs, revealing that the genome is not a random tangle but rather consists of highly ordered scaffolding. This structural framework suggests that even before the embryo "switches on" gene expression, there is a pre-existing organization that guides how genes will be accessed and expressed later in development. The clarity provided by Pico-C has opened new avenues for understanding how these early structures influence cellular processes and potentially shape an organism's fate.
This breakthrough matters because it shifts our understanding of embryonic development. If the genome already contains a blueprint of sorts, scientists can now explore how this pre-existing structure influences gene regulation and disease formation. The findings could have implications for fields like regenerative medicine,
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/24/2026