Exploring How the Heterogeneity of DNA Repair Factor Recruitment Alters Repair Outcomes

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are severe lesions repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR), with HR offering precise repair critical to the process of gene editing. This project explores how variations in DNA repair factor recruitment influence a site towards NHEJ or HR and the resulting effect on editing outcomes. Through the development of a novel “knock-in” assay, the project seeks to elucidate locus-specific tendencies and gene-editing outcomes. By the characterization of these repair mechanisms via flow cytometry and genomic integration checks we aim to develop a predictive model for genome-wide editing outcomes.