Scientific overview

The primary objective of the Arndt Lab is the study of the evolutionary dynamics of evolving genomes. To this end, the lab has developed a suite of precision tools for genomic analysis that leverage the vast amount of information present in genomic data to a greater extent.

Our recent discoveries have revealed that the spatial distribution of mutations along chromosomes contains critical information that is commonly not considered. This approach facilitates the disentangling of complex patterns of sequence divergence in bacteria, explicitly considering the effects of horizontal gene transfer. A body of related considerations enables the study of human population history to an extent that has never been previously achieved.

Furthermore, it has been established that genomes and epigenomes in somatic cells undergo a process of evolution and accumulate mutations, a phenomenon that is particularly pronounced in the context of tumorigenesis. The distribution of mutations in specific regions of the genome can provide insights into the cell type of origin for cancerous cells. In collaboration with colleagues at the BIH/Charité and the Broad Institute, we seek to elucidate the mechanisms underlying early tumorigenesis and to derive actionable insights for more efficacious detection of early cancer lesions and therapies in the future.