Genetics

Multiple sclerosis is driven by a complicated mix of genes and immune dysfunction, but pinpointing exactly which genes matter—especially when risk variants sit outside coding regions—has been a stubborn challenge. In this blog post, we explore research that uses Capture Hi-C, a high-resolution 3D genome-mapping technique, to uncover how MS-associated variants at the 6q23 locus physically loop across long stretches of DNA to regulate far-off immune and neurological genes. These findings not only reshape our understanding of MS genetics but also hint at fresh therapeutic possibilities, including targets already being explored for other autoimmune diseases.