"Cell identity is generated from the epigenetic interpretation of the genome.” Conversations with Maria Elena Torres-Padilla, Boyan Bonev and Wolf Reik

Helmholtz Pioneer Campus researchers Maria Elena Torres-Padilla and Boyan Bonev discuss how the organism uses the same epigenetic toolkit to perform tasks as diverse as maintaining the totipotency of stem cells and differentiating cortical neurons. Wolf Reik discovered some of the first molecular mechanisms responsible for epigenetic imprinting of the genome. As the Director of the Altos Cambridge Institute of Science, Reik now explores the therapeutic potential of epigenetic approaches to ageing and regenerative medicine – a goal shared by the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, where Torres-Padilla serves as the Director of Biomedicine. It’s epigenetics, from embryogenesis to senescence, on this episode of Bioengineering the Future of Medicine.