A2042
Title: A fractal-dimension framework for quantifying self-similarity in chromatin folding
Authors: Anass El Yaagoubi Bourakna - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia) [presenting]
Abstract: A graph-based framework for quantifying self-similarity in chromatin folding from Hi-C contact data is introduced. Genomic loci are represented as nodes and Hi-C interactions as weighted edges, enabling the estimation of fractal dimension using correlation and sandbox methods. Validation on synthetic networks demonstrates that the approach captures hierarchical multiscale organization while distinguishing non-fractal clustered structures. Applied to IMR90 Hi-C data, the framework reveals approximate scaling behavior consistent with fractal-like chromatin organization, with larger chromosomes tending toward more compact, space-filling structures and smaller chromosomes exhibiting lower-dimensional folding patterns. These results suggest that graph-based fractal dimension provides an interpretable quantitative summary of genome organization across scales.
