Changes to two previously unstudied genes are the centerpiece of a new theory regarding the cause and development of endometriosis, a chronic and painful disease affecting one in 10 women. The discovery by Northwestern Medicine scientists suggests epigenetic modification, a process that enhances or disrupts how DNA is read, is an integral component of the disease and its progression. Dr. Matthew Dyson, research assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology-reproductive biology research and Dr. Serdar Bulun, chair of obstetrics and gynecology, also identified a novel role for a family of key gene regulators in the uterus.