GuangJun Zhang Lab

Most human cancer cell genomes contain thousands of genetic alterations. But not all the altered genes equally contribute to cancer development and progression. A major goal of current cancer research is to distinguish pathogenetically relevant genetic alterations (drivers) from the passive changes (passengers) in cancer genome, thus targeting therapy can be developed on human tumors. Our lab mainly uses zebrafish as a model to study human cancer biology and vertebrate developmental biology. Specifically, we focus on two directions within cancer biology: 1. Identify novel human cancer driver genes through zebrafish-human comparative oncogenomic analysis of copy number alterations. Following identification, novel genes’ functions in cancer and vertebrate development will be extensively investigated in zebrafish adults and embryos. 2. Investigate the general biological consequences of aneuploidy and polyploidy, and their roles in cancer development. In addition, we are also interested in the developmental mechanisms of vertebrate morphological novelties during evolution (Evo-Devo), especially the roles of gene/genome duplications in early vertebrates.