131067Assessment of the feasibility of developing an in vitro screen for epigenetic mutagensClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKThe human genome is complex and well protected by an array of systems that sense damage, and initiate repair. When damage is overwhelming, cells are usually forced into suicide to minimise the generation of viable mutant cells that might develop into tumours. Direct DNA damage is not the only threat to the genome. Tissues such as liver, kidney, muscle etc are different because they express different subsets of genes from the same human genome. Active genes are more loosely packaged than inactive genes; inactive genes are more likely to have modified DNA bases compared to active genes. This regulation, above the DNA sequence, defines the science of epigenetics. The distinctive and lifethreatening cells found in tumours also have distintive epigenetic signatures, and in this project it is aimed to determine whether it is possible to detect epicarcinogens in a simple lab test that can detect changes in these signatures of gene expression.