The vital metaphase stage of cell division, when the sister chromatids migrated to the centre and lined up in a row, and pulled apart using attached microtubules in such a way that half the DNA ends up in each daughter cell. However, before the mitotic spindle‐mediated movement gets start and pulled DNA apart, the chromosomes are free to undergo recombination which involves the exchange of genetic material either between multiple chromosomes or between different regions of the same chromosome.

During recombination, the precise breakage of each strand, exchange between the strands, and sealing of the resulting recombined molecules happens. The “chromosomal breakpoints” refers to these places where they break. Mostly, this process occurs with a high degree of accuracy at high frequency in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. But occasionally this “break and sealing/ break and reattach” process goes wrong and the reattachment happens in the wrong place which usually create disaster (with few exceptions).These chromosome disaster or abnormalities involve the gain, loss or rearrangement of visible amounts of genetic material during cell division. These abnormalities are of two type, the first one is numerical abnormalities  where severe disorders are caused by the loss or gain of whole chromosomes, which affect the copy number of hundreds or even thousands of genes. The second are structural abnormalities which can be unbalanced or balanced. The former are similar to numerical abnormalities in that genetic material is either gained or lost. The natural defects in chromosome segregation are linked to cancer and several genetic diseases (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_disorders). Therefore, the enzymes involved in regulating cell division are still the attractive drug targets for many diseases.

Apart from certain chromosome abnormalities, these “crossing over” of segments of maternal and paternal chromosomes to form hybrid chromosomes have some evolutionary importance and considered as a driver of genetic variation. Moreover, the chromosome breakage in evolution is considered to be non-random in nature(http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0020014). In addition the study of breakpoint regions and non-breakpoint (stable) regions of chromosomes indicates both the regions evolved in distinctly different ways ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675965/). These breakage may lead to genetic diseases or participate to chromosomal rearranmgnets and contributed in development of new species.

I will try to explain the genome hotspots/Evolutionary Breakpoint Regions(EBRs)/fragile regions/weak fragments/  in my next blog.

Software for recombination detection:

RAT http://cbr.jic.ac.uk/dicks/software/RAT/

Breakpointer https://github.com/ruping/Breakpointer

DRP http://web.cbio.uct.ac.za/~darren/rdp.html

RB-finder http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18707535

LDhat2.0 http://ldhat.sourceforge.net/LDhat2.0/instructions.shtml

Reference:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-recombination-514#

Image: Wikipedia , sciencelearn.org.nz

Recommended Articles:

http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2012/05/22/13-chromosomal-disorders-youve-never-heard-of/

http://web.udl.es/usuaris/e4650869/docencia/segoncicle/genclin98/recursos_classe_%28pdf%29/revisionsPDF/chromosyndromes.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2775595/table/T2/

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/chromosomal/

http://www.ncert.nic.in/html/learning_basket/biology/cc&cd.pdf

Please visit our site at www.arraygen.com

Essential qualifications: First class M. Sc. in any branch of life sciences and qualified CSIR-UGC NET/GATE Examination.

Desirable qualifications: Practical experience in biochemical and biophysical studies of proteins

Emoluments: as per DBT norms

The project is tenable for two years, initially for one year.

Age: Below 28 years (relaxable in the case of SC/ST/OBC/women candidates)

Candidates are requested to bring two sets of complete applications on plain paper furnishing bio-data and copies of attested certificates along with originals (for verification) on the date of interview.

No TA/DA is admissible for candidates appearing at the interview.

Dr. Rajat Banerjee
Assistant Professor
Department of Biotechnology and
Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
University College of Science
35, Ballygunge Circular Road
Kolkata 700019

Advertisement: www.caluniv.ac.in/news/jrf_biotech_2.pdf

Walk-in-Interview will be held on 04th March 2015 at 11.30 A.M. in the Bio- Informatics Centre of Bose Institute, P-1/12, C.I.T. Scheme VII-M, Kolkata- 700054 for two (02) positions of Research Associate/ Extended Senior Research Fellow in the DBT sponsored following two projects running under the CoE- Bioinformatics under the guidance of Prof. Pinakpani Chakrabarti, Bioinformatics Centre.

Position : RA/SRF
Project title : 1. "Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bioinformatics at Bose Institute”,2. Project entitled “Setting up of National Facility on Interactive Graphysics Computer System (IGCS) for Biomolecular Modeling, Molecular Dynamics & Structures”

Desired Profile : Ph.D degree in Biological or Chemical Sciences with in-depth understanding of protein structure and dynamics for R.A. position.Those who have submitted thesis can be considered for Extended SRF position
Preferred : Knowledge of computer programming and bioinformatics softwares.
Stipend : For R.A- Rs. 22,000/- p.m., plus admissible H.R.A. and Medical benefit. For Extended SRF - Rs. 20,000/- p.m., plus admissible H.R.A.and Medical benefit.
Age : For R.A- Below 35 years; For Extended SRF - Below 33 years
Interested and eligible candidates should appear before the Selection Committee with atyped application addressed to the Sr.Prof. & In-Charge, Registrar's Office, Bose Institute, P- 1/12, CIT Scheme VII-M, Kankurgachi, Kolkata-700054 along with Bio-data giving details of qualification i.e. examination passed, year, division, percentage of marks from Secondary onwards with attested copies of Certificates, Mark-Sheet and testimonials. The candidates should also bring the original mark-sheets, certificates etc. at the time of Interview.

Walk in Interview : 04.03.15

More at http://www.boseinst.ernet.in/ADVT/14/p_34.pdf

Research Associate Biotechnology /JRF / Lab. Assistant recruitment in Indian Institute of Vegetable Research

Project:
Genomics assisted selection of Solanum chilense introgression lines for enhancing drought tolerance in tomato
Post Name : Research Associate
Qualification : Ph.D in Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics/Genetics & Plant Breeding. M. Tech in Computer Science with at least one research paper in science citation indexed journal. Desirable: Experience in bioinformatics and next generation sequence data handling. Familiarity in Linux, R, Perl/Phython or other programming languages. Willingness to travel to European partner centers.

Pay Scale : Rs. 36000 for 1st and 2nd year as per rules for Research Associate. Rs. 25000/- for 1st and 2nd year and Rs. 28000 as per rules for Junior Research Fellow. Rs. 7000/- for Lab. Assistant.

Age : Not more than 35 years for Men and 40 years for Women (Relaxable for SC/ST/OBC/PH candidates as per rules) for Research Associate/ Junior Research Fellow. Minimum age will be 21 years and maximum age will be 45 years (Relaxable for SC/ST/OBC/PH candidates as per rules) for Lab.Assistant.

More at http://iivr.org.in/Job%20Oppurtunities/RA20.03.2015.pdf

Our main research themes are:

Domain annotation and metagenomics
Transcriptomics and sequence analysis
Protein evolution and interactions
Protein conformational dynamics

More at http://www.lcqb.upmc.fr/AnalGenom/home.html

Bioinformatics
Cancer
Epigenetics

More at http://liulab.dfci.harvard.edu/

The position is open for immediate appointment and available for two years and then extendable for additional one year. The applicant will be appointed as Research Associate based on qualifications as detailed below:

Research Associate:

-Master’s degree with bioinformatics with at least 2 years of research experience in Next Generation sequencing data analysis as evidence from Fellowship/ Associateship / Training / other engagements.

-Familiarity with bioinformatics tools, database development, programming skills

-Minimum 1 publication in any peer reviewed journal

Salary will be as per ICAR rules and guidelines. Application will be shortlisted based on CV, reference letters from mentors and telephonic interview. Candidates will be called for a personal interview at Bangalore before appointment. No travel expense will be provided for attending interview at Bangalore.

Interested candidates may send a Letter of Interest and CV by email to: keshav@ibioinformatics.org before September 29, 2015.

Desirable : Research or teaching experience in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.
Honorarium : Rs. 1,000/- per lecture (subject to a maximum of 25,000/- per month)
How to apply

Interested eligible candidates may attend the 'walk-in' interview along with all original certificates and testimonials with a copy of their bio-data. Walk-in-interview will be held on 28.09.2015 (Monday), 03:00 P.M. at the office of the Dean, School of Life Sciences, Science Block — I, Pondicherry University, Puducherry — 605 014. Candidates reporting after 03:00 P.M. will not be entertained.

More at http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/news/walk-interview-guest-faculty-centre-bioinformatics