The researchers mapped the spatial structure of DNA in cells in detail and showed that DNA is not static but folds, cycles and rearranges itself. These changes in the arrangement of the DNA affect how individual genes behave and "turn on or off". The study shows that the architecture of the genome varies from cell to cell and changes over time. The results explain how mutations located outside the genes themselves can still significantly affect gene function and contribute to disease. The findings help to better understand why some genetic changes are risky, even if they do not directly affect the coding region of the gene. The research thus provides a more detailed picture of the "hidden architecture" of the genome, which is crucial for understanding the genetic causes of diseases.