Research interests: [1]. Co-evolution of mobilome and genome; [2]. Transposon-derived miniature targeted nucleases mining and gene editing tools developing; [3]. Targeted transposons mining and DNA and RNA gene site-specific writing tools developmenting; [4]. RIP mining and RIP chip developing in livestock. The mainly used models include human cells, yeast , zebrafish, mice, and pig. At present, the laboratory has two professors, one associate professor, one assistant researcher, one postdoctoral fellow, and more than 20 doctoral and master’s students.
PI: Prof./Dr Chengyi Song, Supervisor of Ph.D Candidates
Research interests：Transposon-mediated gene transfer, gene editing, and transposon-mediated genetic markers mining and their application.
Member of European Society of Gene and CellTherapy (ESGCT)
Education
| 2010.09- 2014.06 | Ph.D | Lab of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, China |
| 1997.09- 2000.06 | MS | Lab of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, China |
| 1993.09- 1997.06 | BS | Majored in Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, China |
Research Experiences
| 2014.08-now | Yangzhou University | Full prof. |
| 2018.02-2018.05 | Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Rostock, Germany | Academic visitor |
| 2014.09-2015.09 | Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK | Postdoc |
| 2010.08-2014.08 | Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China | Postdoc |
| 2006.09-2007.09 | Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Formerly Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe), Karlsruhe, Germany | Academic visitor |
| 2008.08-2014.07 | Yangzhou University | Asso. Prof. |
| 2002.08-2008.07 | Yangzhou University | Lecturer |
| 2000.07-2002.07 | Yangzhou University | Research assistant |
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0488-4718
Prof./Dr Bo Gao, Supervisor of Ph.D Candidates
Research interests：Development of non-viral gene delivery systems and their applications in transgenesis, mutagenesis, and gene therapy. Evolution of mobilome, mining and engineering of specific targeting DNA transposons or retrotransposons, development of gene transfer and gene editing tools.
ORCID: Bo Gao (0000-0002-4029-1258) (orcid.org)
Asso. Prof./Dr XiaoYan Wang, Supervisor of Master’s Candidates
Research interests: (1) Genetic analysis of important economic traits in pigs; (2) Conventional and molecular breeding strategies for pigs; (3) Evaluation and conservation of pig genetic resources; (4) Promotion of pig health through breeding practices.
ORCID: 0000-0001-8521-2974
Cai Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Researcher
Research Direction: 1. RIP mining and RIP chip developing in livestock; 2. Roles of retrotransposable elements in the regulation of mammalian genome regulation.
http://teacher.yzu.edu.cn/~JJFnMf/en/index.htm
Saisai Wang, Postdoc, Research Assistant
Research interests: High active DNA transposons mining and optimizing, and their application in transgenesis, mutagenesis, and gene therapy.
2013 June, bachelor degree of animal science, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology;
2015 June, master degree of animal science, Yangzhou University;
2021 June, doctor degree of animal genetics, breeding, and reproduction, Yangzhou University.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelkader Saleh, Postdoc
Education: Graduated from Alexandria University, Egypt. Majoring in Biological Science. Postgraduate studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding, Alexandria University, Egypt. Obtained an MSc degree in Molecular Markers from Alexandria University and City of Scientific Research & Technology Applications, Egypt. Ph.D. degree in Animal Genetics and Breeding, Southwest University (SWU), China. Postdoctoral research in Animal Genetics, Alexandria University, Egypt. MSc in Human Development, Diplomatic Training Centre, Egypt. BMA in Business Administration, Egyptian Cultural Centre, Egypt.
Research direction & Interest: Previously focused on animal genetics and breeding especially ”farm animals”. Areas of scientific interest include; candidate genes also their association with production and reproductive traits, MAS, signatures of selection, QTL, GWAS, GEBV, besides, the biodiversity of AnGR. Current research interests have a strong emphasis on Bioinformatics, DNA & RNA transposons mainly in animal genomes and their applications as genetic tools. Our research includes animal genome transposon identifications, classification, and evolution. Also, we mining for highly active transposons and testing their activities in human cells.
Positions: Serves as a faculty member (Assistant Professor) at the lab of animal Genetics and Breeding, Alexandria University, Egypt. Serves as an Arbitrator in the International Arbitration Organization. Consultant Trainer at Diplomatic Training Centre. Researcher at the City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications. Postdoctoral researcher at Yangzhou University, China.
Doctorate Candidates
Mohamed Diaby, Ph.D Candidates, 2018-2022
Education: Graduated from AL-AZHAR University (Egypt), majoring in Animal Production. Postgraduate studies in animal physiology, Cairo University (Egypt). MSc degree in Sustainable Agriculture (Animal Production), a joint degree from Chiang Mai University (Thailand) and University of Hohenheim (Germany). Research direction and interest: I am engaged in DNA transposon mainly in the animal genomes and their applications as genetic tools. Our research includes animal genome transposon identification, classification, and evolution. Also, I am mining for high active DNA transposons and testing their activities in the human cells.
Numan Ullah, Ph.D Candidates, 2018-2022
Numan heals from Northern Pakistan with an Undergraduate and Master’s degree from Peshawar, Pakistan he joined Yangzhou University in the fall of 2018. His PhD research involves characterizing new CRISPR-Cas systems and improving their efficiency by developing fusion proteins. He is interested in developing improved gene-editing systems and their application in gene therapy.
Naisu Yang, Ph.D Candidates, 2018-2022
ALI SHOAIB ALI ABDALLAH, Ph.D Candidates, 2020-2024
Ali Shoaib Moawad from Egypt with an undergraduate and master’s degree from Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. He works as Assistant Lecturer, Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. He joined Yangzhou University in the fall of 2020. His PhD research includes Retrotransposons annotation and evolution in the genome of livestock.
Yao Zheng, Ph.D Candidates, 2021-2025
Graduated from Jiangsu of Agri-animal Husbandry Vacational College in 2016; graduated from College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University in 2017; graduated from Yangzhou University with a master’s degree in animal Husbandry in 2021. Currently, I am studying in the department of Animal Science of Yangzhou University as a doctoral student. My main research direction is the cultivation of Yangda-BBY miniature pigs and the effects of RNA transposon insertion sites on genes, genomes and phenotypes.For the classification of SINE transposon, LINE and ERV of different types of RNA transposon, I mainly take SINE transposon as the research object at present. With the help of comparative genomics method, I conduct bioinformatics analysis and excavat polymorphic insertion sites of SINE transposon at the genome-wide level of pigs. At the same time, according to coordinate analysis of insertion sites, the interaction between SINE transposon, target gene and lncRNA is explored to reveal the important influence of SINE transposon on gene, genome and phenotype of insertion polymorphism.
Shasha Shi, Ph.D Candidates, 2022-2026
2015.09-2019.06 College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Major: Animal Science; From 2019 to now, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, majoring in Animal Husbandry; Research interests: DNA transposon mining and application, including (1) transposon identification, classification, evolution, annotation, etc.; (2) The mining and validation of highly active DNA transposons and the application of transposon technology in transgenic.
Asare Emmanuel, Ph.D Candidates, 2022-2026
Graduated from Animal Science in 2021, with a master’s degree in Animal Husbandry in 2021. Currently studying for a Doctorate Degree in Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction.
Master’s Candidates
Jia He, Master, 2021-2024
Graduated from the animal science specialty of Yangzhou University in 2021. Currently study for master’s degree in animal genetics breeding and reproduction. The research focuses on the important molecular markers of retrotransposons that affect the growth and development of pigs, providing a basis for the development and application of retrotransposon markers.
Mengke Guo, Master, 2021-2024
I graduated from Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economics with a major in animal science in 2021. At present, I study for a master’s degree in animal genetic breeding and reproduction, mainly studying the gene transfering and editing transposases and their derivates.
Bingqing Wang, Master, 2022-2025
Graduated from Yangzhou University in 2022, with a focus on transposons and insertion element (IS) mining in virus, prokaryote, and eukaryote genomes, including transposon and IS mining, identification, classification, evolutionary analysis, and gene trasfer tool development, optimization and application.
Kuilin Xiang, Master, 2022-2025
Graduated from Yangzhou University in 2022, currently studying for a master’s degree in animal science, mainly engaged in transposon identification, classification, evolution, annotation, and verification of highly active DNA transposons.
Miao Yu, Master, 2022-2025
Born in Anshan, Liaoning, Manchu Ethnic Minority. Graduated from Shenyang Institute of Technology in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences. Now study in the master’s degree program of animal husbandry in Yangzhou University. Field of research: mining retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms in pigs.
Addy George
Chengyu Zhou, 2023-2026
BS: graduated in Animal Science in 2023, YZU, MS: Majored in animal breeding, genetics, and reproduction, research interests: genomics, and gentic marker development.
QiuanWang, 2023-2026
BS: graduated in Animal Science in 2023, YZU, MS: Majored in animal breeding, genetics, and reproduction, research interests: gene editing and engineering.
Hong Chen, 2023-2026
BS: graduated in Animal Science in 2023, YZU, MS: Majored in animal breeding, genetics, and reproduction, research interests: evoltuion of retrotransposons and DNA transposons, development of gene transfer tools.
Guest students
Yinggang Xiao, Master, 2020-2023
After graduating from the Department of Anesthesiology, Zunyi Medical University in 2020, I am currently studying for an academic master’s degree in anesthesiology at Yangzhou University. My research interests include systemic intravenous anesthesiology toxicity; zebrafish embryo growth and development; transposon inversion mediated brain injury; bioinformatics.
Wenjuan Yuan, Master, 2021-2024
I graduated from Xinxiang Medical College in 2021 with a degree in anesthesiology, and currently study for an academic master’s degree in anesthesiology at Yangzhou University, focusing on the effects of general anesthetic drugs on zebrafish embryonic development and zebrafish drug screening models.
Graduates from Mobilome Lab
Yali Wang, Ph.D Candidates, 2018-2022
I graduated from Shihezi University in 2014, majoring in animal science, and graduated from the master’s degree in animal genetic breeding and reproduction in 2016, with the main research interests in precision gene editing tool optimization and mining.
Graduated from Yangzhou University in 2016, majoring in animal science.
Research interests: Bioinformatics and statistics for high-throughput omics data; mobilome annotation, DNA transposons and retrotransposons mining; big data analytics and systems biology.
Zhanyu Du, Ph.D Candidates, 2019-2023
Graduated from Baicheng Normal University in 2013, majoring in biotechnology.
Graduated from Jilin Agricultural University with a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2017.
In 2019, I majored in Animal Husbandry at Yangzhou University, majoring in doctoral degree.
Research interests: Porcine genome; Retrotransposon and genome structure variation；Bioinformatics.
Cai Chen, 2015-2019
Research Direction: 1. RIP mining and RIP chip developing in livestock; 2. Roles of retrotransposable elements in the regulation of mammalian genome regulation.
Dan Shen, 2016-2020
I graduated from Yangzhou University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2013, and got the master’s and doctorate degree in animal genetics, breeding and reproduction in 2016 and 2020. My research project is about new DNA transposons discovery, using zebrafish and mice as model organisms. Fortunately, an active transposon of zebrafish (ZeBrafish, named as ZB transposon) was successfully uncovered with the great help of my supervisor Prof. Chengyi Song, during my postgraduate period. ZB transposon not only has high transposition activity in its host zebrafish, but also has high jumping ability in mammals (such as mice). Therefore, ZB can be widely used as an efficient genetic research tool. In addition, ZB transposon has obtained the national invention patent authorization.
Saisai Wang, 2017-2021
Research interests: High active DNA transposons mining and optimizing, and their application in transgenesis, mutagenesis, and gene therapy.
2013 June, bachelor degree of animal science, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology;
2015 June, master degree of animal science, Yangzhou University;
2021 June, doctor degree of animal genetics, breeding, and reproduction, Yangzhou University.
Zhongxia Guan, Master, 2019-2022
Graduated from the College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University in 2019. I am interested in Retrotransposon and DNA transposon mining and engineering, and their application in transgenesis and mutagenesis.
Chenglin Chi, Master, 2019-2022
Graduated from Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College in 2018; Graduated from College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University in 2019; Graduated from Yangzhou University with a master’s degree in animal Husbandry In 2022. The main research direction is the development of molecular markers based on active transposon insertion polymorphism and its application in animal genetics and breeding.
Wenzhu Jia, Master, 2020-2023
Graduated from Yangzhou University in 2020, majoring in animal science, and now studying in Yangzhou University, majoring in animal husbandry. My main research direction is the excavation and transformation of transposons. I hope that transposons will be more applied to medicine and other fields to give full play to their potential and advantages.
Mengli Wang, Master, 2020-2023
2016.09-2020.06 Studied at the School of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Animal Husbandry and Economics, major: Animal Science; 2020-present at the School of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, major: Animal Husbandry; Genomic SINE Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphism (RIP) Marker Development’ Study.