The genome is where the genetic information of each organism is stored. This information is needed to produce the molecular components of an organism that finally undertake the variety of processes necessary for cell division and growth, cell differentiation, interact with other cells and respond to internal and external signals and challenges, among others. Teams in our program gather into two Research Units (“Genome decoding” and “Genome maintenance and instability”) that focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in these basic, fundamental processes occurring in all cell types. To this end we use a variety of model systems to decipher mechanisms of genome organization, DNA and chromatin replication and repair, RNA transcription, RNA translation, protein turnover as well as the assembly of macromolecular complexes and the interactions that contribute to regulate genome organization and function. The long term goal of our research is to gain basic knowledge of molecular mechanisms that can be eventually translated into a better understanding of cellular function under normal and pathological conditions.