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Chen Lab
My laboratory is interested in developing bioinformatics programs and genomics (and molecular) tools for understanding genome architecture and expression.
In particular, we are interested in characterizing gene structures, transcription factors and regulatory elements, sequence and structural variations, and, more importantly, regulatory mechanisms. Ultimately, we are interested in understanding how genome sequences and their organization (including various modifications) direct development and biological functions. Currently, we primarily use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Bioinformatics programs and genomics tools, however, are generally readily applicable in all organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. Current research projects fall into two major categories: (1) Identification and characterization of novel genes, synteny blocks, functional elements, genome variations and genome rearrangements; (2) Transcriptional regulation of genes and gene batteries.
For more details, visit our research lab website.
Selected Publications
- Song H, Chen Y, Liu F, Chen N (2021) Large Differences in the Haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa Mitochondrial Genomes Driven by Repeat Amplifications. Front. Microbiol. 12:676447. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.676447.
- Zongmei C, Qing X, Kate G, Shuya L, Chen N (2021) Metabarcoding analysis of harmful algal bloomspecies in the Changjiang Estuary, China. Science of the Total Environment 782 (2021) 146823. doi: org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146823.
- Liu S, Gibson K, Cui Z, Chen Y, Sun X, Chen N (2020). Harmful Algae 92 (2020) 101772. doi: org/10.1016/j.hal.2020.101772.
- Gong G, Dan C, Xiao S, Guo W, Huang P, Xiong Y, Wu J, He Y, Zhang J, Li X, Chen N, Gui JF, Mei J. Chromosomal-level assembly of yellow catfish genome using third-generation DNA sequencing and Hi-C analysis. Gigascience. 2018 Nov 1;7(11). doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giy120.
- Xu S, Xiao S, Zhu S, Zeng X, Luo J, Liu J, Gao T, Chen N. A. draft genome assembly of the Chinese sillago (Sillago sinica), the first reference genome for Sillaginidae fishes. Gigascience. 2018 Sep 1;7(9). doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giy108.
- Qin Z, Johnsen R, Yu S, Chu JS, Baillie DL, Chen N. Genomic Identification and Functional Characterization of Essential Genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (Bethesda). 2018 Mar 2;8(3):981-997. doi: 10.1534/g3.117.300338.