Research Areas

Cellular reprogramming cloning nuclear transfer induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell) haploid ESCs semi-cloned technology embryonic development

Research Interests

My lab attempts to optimize reprogramming procedures, improve the developmental potential of reprogrammed cells and reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in somatic reprogramming.In 2012, we reported that the generation of androgenetic haploid embryonic stem cells (AG-haESCs) that can support full-term embryonic development upon injection into MII oocytes, leading to the generation of semi-cloned (SC) mice. However, one major drawback of this study is the frequently observed aberrant development of AG-haESC-derived embryos and the very low birth rate of healthy SC mice (around 2% of total SC embryos); this greatly restricts the applications of AG-haESCs. Recently, we have shown that AG-haESCs carrying deletions in the DMRs (differentially DNA methylated regions) controlling two paternally repressed imprinted genes, H19 and Gtl2, designated as DKO-AG-haESCs, can efficiently support the generation of SC pups at a rate of 20%. We propose that this new technology is feasible for medium-scale targeted screening at organism level, especially for developmental phenotypes, using the appropriate sgRNA libraries targeting preselected candidate genes.
We will test this hypothesis and will study the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vivo using “spermatid-like” haploid cell-mediated genetic screening system.

Education

2002-2007: Postdoctoral Fellow, The Rockefeller University
1999-2002: Ph.D., Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1993-1996: M Sc, Yangzhou University
1989-1993: B.S., Jiangxi Agriculture University