Research interest
Transposons, also called mobile DNA elements or ‘jumping genes’, are abundant in almost all living things. In humans, transposons occupy about 50% of the DNA and are still able to mobilize in the human genome. Recent studies show that transposons can affect embryonic development, neurogenesis, and are related with over 100 different types of diseases. However, the detailed mechanism and functions of transposons remain largely unexplored. Through ‘wet lab’ and ‘dry lab’ techniques, we will study the mechanism of transposon regulation and the roles of transposons in development and disease.