Controlling Expression to Control Disease

To understand Syros' pioneering new technology, let's look at the big picture. For much of the past 50 years, genetic research has focused on the 2% of DNA that codes instructions for producing proteins - the molecules that do the work of keeping us alive.

And gene-driven drug discovery has focused on errors, or mutations, in that code, which result in abnormal proteins and ultimately disease. Despite significant advances in treating certain diseases, many more diseases continue to evade our best efforts.

These switches control the type and function of every cell by controlling which genes are expressed, when, and in what amounts.

When those genomic switches malfunction, the expression of many genes can be affected and the consequences can be profound, leading to everything from the common cold to cancer and heart disease.

Now, thanks to a confluence of scientific and technological breakthroughs, that 98% of the genome is finally within reach.