A multiscale, non-equilibrium mathematical framework for nuclear cartography

Abstract: This project addresses how cells achieve specialized functions despite sharing the same genomic material, focusing on the complex organization of DNA within the cell nucleus. By integrating information theory, non-equilibrium statistical physics, and differentiable programming, the researchers aim to develop a mathematical framework for “nuclear cartography”—a method to predict and map how the genome self-organizes alongside nuclear condensates to regulate gene expression. This multiscale model will clarify the rules governing the structural dynamics of the nucleus and will be validated through experimental studies in developing mouse brain neurons. Ultimately, this work seeks to explain the fundamental biological mechanisms that balance the stability of cell identity with the plasticity required for development.