Laboratory of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology is mainly focusing on the role of imprinting in mouse embryonic development, identification and functional study of key coding and non-coding RNAs in mouse embryonic development. Genomic imprinting is a genetic phenomenon by which certain genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. In diploid organisms, somatic cells possess two copies of the genome. The expressed allele is dependent upon its parental origin. For example, the gene encoding Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2/Igf2) is only expressed from the allele inherited from the father. Lab leader Dr. Wu has previously made parthenogenetic mice “Kaguya” and found that Igf2-H19 and Dlk1-Gtl2 are vital to the birth of mice. In addition, the lab has identified several non-coding and coding imprinted RNAs, including Meg8, AB063319 and Qpct. These non-coding RNAs were further studied to uncover their function in embryogenesis, specifically, by spatio and temporal expression by RT-PCR and ISH technology.

The lab is also undertaking project of cell reprogramming mechanisms, especially for reprogramming by Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and Embryonic Stem Cells. The lab is growing rapidly, in terms of funds, involving a total of 17 projects and 3.2 million yuan.

The lab is equipped with cutting-edge instruments, supporting high-level molecular biology researches. In next years, the lab is planning to do a lot of work on interdisciplinary researches, such as non-coding RNA predictions, imprinting gene predictions and influences of environmental factors such as estrogen upon embryonic development. Given the new situation of rapid life science development, the lab has been prepared to develop into a lab with international influence.

Lab website：http://202.97.205.78/wu/