The Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Genetics

Yun-Fai Chris Lau, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Research Career Scientist, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco

Y Chromosome Genes in Health and Diseases

Our research focuses on understanding the roles of Y chromosome genes in mammalian development and their epigenetic regulation and dysfunctions contributing to both normal male development and human diseases. Our research efforts are currently on the following specific areas of investigation:

• Molecular mechanism of sex determination and differentiation - early stages of male sex differentation

• Role of Y chromosome in human cancers - how misbehavior of certain Y chromosome genes could exacerbate human tumor initiation and development

• Y chromosome and sexual dimorphism in disease development and progression - brain structure, cognitive dysfunction, autism and somatic cancers

• Transgenic mouse models of human diseases

Various molecular genetics, genomics, proteomic and transgenic mouse strategies are utilized in our research.

Contact Information

Additional website: http://cancer.ucsf.edu/people/lau_yun-fai.php