Projects per year
Personal profile
Chinese Name
Biography
Research in my laboratory can be broadly classified into the following two categories
Mechanism of postzygotic hybrid incompatibilities between nematode species
Hybrid incompatibility (HI), including sterility and lethality between closely related species has been noticed over a century ago, but only recently is it possible to decipher the molecular basis of speciation. However, C. elegans has not been explored for such research because there is no sister species found with which it mates and produce hybrid viable progeny. C. briggsae is the closest living relative of C. elegans. We are trying to develop new tools and resources to make C. briggsae and its newly isolated sister species, C. nigoni, as an attractive model system for research into molecular mechanisms of hybrid incompatibility.
Gene regulatory networks underlying cell fate determination during nematode embryogenesis
During C. elegans embryogenesis, the developmental potential of the fertilized egg is restricted in a stepwise manner following each cell division by differentially expressing a cohort of regulatory proteins. Together with the genetic and genomic tools, especially CHIP-Seq, we have been using automatic lineagingto dissect the gene regulatory network underlying the tissue/organ formation.
Research Interests
- Mechanism of postzygotic hybrid incompatibilities between nematode species
- Developmental dynamics of signaling pathways during nematode embryogenesis
- Gene regulatory networks underlying cell fate determination during nematode embryogenesis
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
1 Jul 2021 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Molecular cloning and functional characterization of hybrid male inviability loci between nematodes Caenorhabditis briggsae and C. nigoni
ZHAO, Z. (PI)
1/01/25 → 31/12/27
Project: Research project
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Equipment Matching Fund - Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope (Desktop SEM)
QIU, J. (PI), CHIU, M. Y. (CoI), CHEUNG, K. L. A. (CoI), ZHAO, Z. (CoI), LIAO, P. (CoI) & ZHAO, J. (CoI)
26/03/24 → 25/03/26
Project: Research project
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Establishing the molecular identity of loci responsible for hybrid male sterility and its rescue between nematodes of Caenorhabditis briggsae and C. nigoni
ZHAO, Z. (PI)
1/01/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Research project
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Development of Super-Resolution Imaging and Automated Fluorescence Labeling System for Study of Abnormal Chromatin Structure
ZHAO, Z. (PI)
3/07/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Research project
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Development of Super-Resolution Imaging and Automated Fluorescence Labeling System for Study of Abnormal Chromatin Structure
ZHAO, Z. (PI) & WONG, M. K. (CoPI)
1/07/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Research project
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An effective method for quantification, visualization, and analysis of 3D cell shape during early embryogenesis
Li, Z., Huang, Z., Cao, J., Guan, G., Zhao, Z. & Yan, H., Mar 2025, In: Quantitative Biology. 13, 1, 14 p., e83.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access -
Nb-FAR-1: A key developmental protein affects lipid droplet accumulation and cuticle formation in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis
Qi, W., Shen, F., Wang, C., Wen, J., Pan, X., Zhao, Z., Xiao, L., Feng, Y. & Yuan, D., 17 Jan 2025, In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 19, 1, 21 p., e0012769.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access -
A newborn F-box gene blocks gene flow by selectively degrading phosphoglucomutase in species hybrids
Xie, D., Ma, Y., Ye, P., Liu, Y., Ding, Q., Huang, G., Félix, M.-A., Cai, Z. & Zhao, Z., 12 Nov 2024, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 121, 46, 11 p., e2418037121.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
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CShaperApp: Segmenting and analyzing cellular morphologies of the developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryo: Segmenting and analyzing cellular morphologies of the developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryo
Cao, J., Hu, L., Guan, G., Li, Z., Zhao, Z., Tang, C. & Yan, H., Sept 2024, In: Quantitative Biology. 12, 3, p. 329-334 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
Deep Learning-based Enhancement of Fluorescence Labeling for Accurate Cell Lineage Tracing During Embryogenesis
Li, Z., Xie, D., Ma, Y., Zhao, C., You, S., Yan, H. & Zhao, Z., 1 Nov 2024, In: Bioinformatics. 40, 11, 10 p., btae626.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 3 Editor/reviewer for publications (incl. CDCF T61 Journal Editor)
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BMC Biology (Journal)
ZHAO, Z. (Member of editorial board)
Nov 2021 → …Activity: Publication peer-review/editorial work › Editor/reviewer for publications (incl. CDCF T61 Journal Editor)
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Frontiers in Physiology (Journal)
ZHAO, Z. (Member of editorial board)
Nov 2020 → …Activity: Publication peer-review/editorial work › Editor/reviewer for publications (incl. CDCF T61 Journal Editor)
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Scientific Reports (Journal)
ZHAO, Z. (Member of editorial board)
Nov 2016 → …Activity: Publication peer-review/editorial work › Editor/reviewer for publications (incl. CDCF T61 Journal Editor)