Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

The paper describes the development and application of a new sequencing-based technology for obtaining genome-wide views of chromatin structure. The technology is of general interest across different fields, and the acquired datasets and biological findings are also relevant to several areas of biology.

  Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of knowledge?

It describes a new technology for genome-wide analysis of chromatin, and new findings on the chromatin landscape of pluripotent and differentiating embryonic stem cells.

  Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

A global understanding of how DNA is organized and regulated is essential to an eventual understanding of how our genomes work. This paper presents a new tool for studying DNA organization and structure, and its application to stem cells.

  How did you become involved in this research, and were there any problems along the way?

We had been studying chromatin structure for many years. We had previously relied on microarray-based methods, but these had several limitations. Recent innovations in sequencing technology enabled us to develop this new technique which overcomes many, but certainly not all, of these shortcomings.

  Where do you see your research leading in the future?

We hope to understand how regulation of the genome by chromatin guides and reinforces cell fate decisions during mammalian development.

  Do you foresee any social or political implications for your research?

It reinforces the importance of environmental and lineage-specific cues in regulating gene function.

Bradley E. Bernstein, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School and Broad Institute
Cambridge, MA, USA

Keywords: sequencing-based technology, genome-wide analysis of chromatin structure, pluripotent and differentiating embryonic stem cells, chromatin structure.