Timing and coordination of biological processes is crucial for cellular homeostasis and normal development. As chromosome condensation poses significant constraints to gene expression, one of the main interests of our laboratory is to better understand how is gene expression regulated in fast dividing cells and in meiotic-arrested oocytes. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model system and we aim to better understand the functional crosstalk between chromosome condensation and regulation of gene expression during development.