"The pre-animal origins of gene regulatory pathways, from DNA methylation to pluripotency"
Intricate mechanisms of gene regulation are critical for eukaryotes, particularly in multicellular organisms where diverse cell types arise from differential gene expression of a single genome. However, the evolution of gene regulatory pathways has been complex, involving recurrent simplifications or expansions tied to major evolutionary transitions. In our laboratory, we delve into the origins of DNA methylation in eukaryotes, its interplay with genome evolution and Giant Viruses, and the emergence of pluripotency factors in unicellular protists closely related to animals. We employ comparative and functional genomics in non-conventional model systems to address these questions, emphasizing the significance of broad taxonomic sampling for a comprehensive understanding of eukaryotic gene regulation.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 385 590 455 526
Passcode: Xos6sJ
Date: 21 May 2024, 14:30 (Tuesday, 5th week, Trinity 2024)
Venue: Biology Mansfield Road, 11a Mansfield Road OX1 3SZ
Venue Details: Seminar Room
Speaker: Dr Alex de Mendoza (Queen Mary University of London)
Organising department: Department of Biology
Organiser: Jessica Bassett
Organiser contact email address: jessica.bassett@biology.ox.ac.uk
Host: Prof Aziz Aboobaker (Dept of Biology, University of Oxford)
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Jessica Bassett