RNA biology
of early zebrafish embryogenesis
We study the molecular and cellular biology of RNA molecules, and how post-transcriptional gene regulation at the RNA level underlies embryonic development.
How do cells control hundreds-of-thousands of RNA transcripts after their production?
What is the role of post-transcriptional RNA regulation during early embryogenesis?
How do cells produce precise RNA levels at the right place at the right time?
How is this information encoded in the genome sequence?
What are the physiological implications to embryogenesis and differentiation into specialized cell types?
To answer these questions, we use a system-level approach that combines large-scale genomics with in-depth genetic and functional investigations, and a powerful animal model: the zebrafish embryo.
These has important implications, which range from fertility and disease mechanisms to the bioengineering of RNA molecules for various applications.