To understand how the fine structure of chromosomes is involved in gene regulation and human disease states, my laboratory has developed a unique but very simple system. Capable of packaging cloned DNA into chromosome-like structures in vitro , this system has revealed that subtle sequence motifs in the DNA serve as signals that direct the arrangement of the fundamental chromosomal subunits called nucleosomes. Chromosomal regions containing different arrangements of subunits might form different higher-order structures that have particular functional properties. In this work computer bioinformatics methods are used in addition to biochemical, biophysical, and molecular biology techniques. 

An additional interest of my laboratory is in the area of biotechnology. In collaboration with Dr. Minou Bina of the Department of Chemistry, we have developed and patented miniaturized disposable gels capable of sequencing DNA. Because of the small size and ultra-thindesign, these gels run very fast. They are also inexpensive to make and convenient to use. This gel system has now been used successfully for several years in one of the teaching labs (BIOL 542) at Purdue to teach DNA sequencing.