The Naxerova lab studies somatic evolution. We are using a variety of systems-level approaches to study the origins and consequences of somatic variation, blending computational and high-throughput wet lab methods. We are particularly interested in the evolution of metastasis. Do metastases arise from distinct clones with special, genetically encoded properties or do they represent random samples of the primary tumor? Does metastatic spread happen early or late in tumor development? Do all metastases arise independently from the primary tumor, or do they give rise to each other? What levels of genetic diversity exist among metastases, and what can they tell us about the evolutionary history of the disease? The answers to these questions have important clinical implications but are difficult to study in humans because it is challenging to reconstruct occult events that happened years before diagnosis. We develop and apply genetic techniques to determine the clonal architecture and lineage of cancer cells in human specimens and collaborate with clinicians in utilizing these tools to further our understanding of cancer evolution. This seminar will be on the topic of genetic diversity in lymph node and liver metastases in colorectal cancer.