Qi, Yingchuan, PhDAssistant Professor

Developmental biologists have acquired a substantial understanding of the principles of embryo development. A prime example of this is the discovery by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus regarding embryonic patterning, as well as Lewis' work on segmentation, using Drosophila (fruit fly) embryo development as a model. These groundbreaking discoveries earned them the Nobel Prize in 1995. Together with numerous other researchers' work, these achievements laid the foundation for the core principles of embryonic development, which rely on the interaction between developmental signals and cascading transcription programs.

In contrast to embryonic development, the mechanisms governing post-embryonic development are still in the early stages of investigation. Post-embryonic development encompasses the period during which an organism matures from a juvenile to an adult, and one can even extend this period to include adult development and aging. During this significant stage of life, various crucial processes occur, such as nervous system maturation and sexual development. Additionally, there are intriguing processes, often overlooked, such as how individual size and developmental timing are regulated. These processes are undoubtedly controlled by genetic programs specific to each species, but their fundamental mechanisms remain unknown, making them a prominent topic in current developmental biology research.

To explore the aforementioned questions, our research group employs the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. This organism offers robust capabilities for molecular genetic manipulation, and importantly, enables analysis at both the single-cell level and the whole-animal system level. Given its short two-week lifespan, we can track the molecular, cellular, and physiological changes in these animals throughout their entire life trajectories. Our research group primarily focuses on investigating the genetic mechanisms that drive post-embryonic development, adult development, and aging. One specific area of interest is understanding how the timing of developmental stages is controlled in animals. Additionally, we study how nutritional pathways regulate growth and developmental checkpoints. Furthermore, we explore key events that occur during the maturation of the nervous system.

Through our research endeavors, our group aims to contribute to unraveling the fundamental principles of individual development and lifecycle regulation.