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

Associate Member, Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco

Member, Cancer Genetics & Prostate Cancer Programs, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco

Y Chromosome Genes in Health and Diseases

Our research focuses on understanding the roles of Y chromosome genes, and their homologues, 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

• Roles of the sex chromosomes in human cancers - how misbehavior of certain Y and X chromosome genes could exacerbate or suppress human tumor initiation and development

• Y chromosome and sexual dimorphisms in normal development, disease initiation and progression - brain structure, neurodevelopment, cognitive disorders, 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 websites: http://cancer.ucsf.edu/people/lau_yun-fai.php

Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America: http://www.scbasociety.org/