The chemistry of the genome is far more complex than the base pairing recognition of A-T and G-C. For example, small modifications to each base (e.g., DNA damage and epigenetic marks) profoundly impact a cell's ability to proliferate and produce secondary metabolites. On the other hand, direct binding of small molecules to DNA or RNA can be used to regulate biosynthetic pathways. Our research bridges the chemistry of the genome to natural product production and clinical diagnostics for new applications in green chemistry and cancer therapeutics.