TEACHING & COURSES

Empowering the next generation of researchers with cutting-edge knowledge in developmental biology and epigenetics.

Frontiers in Phenome-Driven Mechanisms and Target Validation (BIOL60059)

Role: Co-instructor Course leader: Pingyu Liu Term: Fall semester (2026-2027) Credits: 2 Audience: Graduate students in biology
Course overview
This course is grounded in deep phenomic measurement and analysis, and is organized into three major modules: tracing the mechanisms of developmental phenotypes and genetic disorders; molecular mechanisms of senescence and aging; and translational frontiers in aging-related diseases and targeted interventions. Distinct from traditional courses in genetics or molecular biology, it guides students to study the research strategy of identifying targets from phenotypes and validating function and mechanisms through various phenotypes.
Our lab's teaching modules (Instructor: Yuxuan Zheng)

Week 3 & 4: Early development
Introduction to embryonic development and cutting-edge research methods.

Week 7, 8, 11 & 12: Advanced genetic disease & literature
Embryonic development and genetic diseases (I, II & III), followed by guided group literature study and presentations.

Molecular Phenomics: Experimental Principles and Data Analysis (BIOL60001)

Role: Co-instructor Course leader: Ying Yu Term: Fall semester (2026-2027) Credits: 2 Audience: Graduate students in biology
Course overview
This course provides comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge in molecular phenomics, highlighting the application and data processing of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in biological research. The curriculum bridges experimental design and hands-on data analysis, teaching students how to process large-scale omics data (including quality control, normalization, and statistical analysis) using bioinformatics tools like R and Python. Ultimately, it explores the clinical translation of molecular phenomics in biomarker discovery, drug target screening, and precision medicine.
Our lab's teaching modules (Instructor: Yuxuan Zheng)

Week 3: Single-cell transcriptomics
The theoretical foundation and cutting-edge developments of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Unlike bulk RNA-seq, which provides an average expression profile, scRNA-seq resolves cellular heterogeneity at an unprecedented resolution.

Week 7: Hands-on practice in single-cell data
Moving from bench to bytes, this highly interactive session equips students with the essential bioinformatics skills required to process and interpret single-cell data. Using real-world datasets, students will be guided step-by-step through the standard scRNA-seq analysis pipeline.

Developmental Epigenetics: Cell Fate and Organogenesis (BIOL40017)

Role: Course leader Course leader: Yuxuan Zheng Term: Spring semester (2026-2027) Credits: 2 Audience: Graduate students in biology
Course overview
This course explores how life evolves from single-cell fate decisions to highly complex macroscopic physiological systems. It focuses on the multi-dimensional epigenetic regulatory networks during embryo implantation, morphogenesis, and the construction of tissue-specific microenvironments (such as the fetal liver hematopoietic stem cell niche). Bridging molecular, cellular, and organ scales, the course also highlights cutting-edge technologies including single-cell multi-omics, and gene editing.
Key topics

Week 1-4: Decoding life
Dynamic assembly of DNA methylation and histone codes, 3D genome organization, and non-coding RNA networks in early development.

Week 5-8: Cell fate decisions
Global epigenetic reprogramming, maintenance of pluripotency, asymmetric division, and epigenetic memory in classical developmental signaling pathways.

Week 9-12: Organogenesis & microenvironment
Epigenetic interactions at the maternal-fetal interface, fetal liver hematopoietic niches, spatiotemporal regulation in neural development, and mechano-epigenetic coupling.

Week 13-16: Frontier medical interventions
Developmental origins of disease, transgenerational inheritance, and advanced therapies for developmental defects.