Quantitative and Systems Biology
Dr Huang, Wei (黃巍)
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Department of Physics
BSc, MSc (USTC); PhD (Cornell)
- Contact
- Email: huangwei@hku.hk
- Tel: (852)2819 9487
- Office: L3-78, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
Postgraduate Research Projects Available:
- Stochastic gene expression and cell fate control
Research Description:
Transcriptional gene regulation of key genes plays essential roles in cell fate control in development and regenerative medicine. However, the gene expression levels are heterogeneous from cell to cell and from time to time. Such stochastic gene expression is due to the small number of molecules and other factors, and is called noise. Does cell utilize noise, or suppress noise for cell fate control? We are using the mouse embryonic stem cell as a model system to address this question. We are generating various fluorescent protein reporter cell lines. With which, we quantify the expression levels of key genes in live single cells using flow cytometry and time-lapse fluorescent microscopy. We observe the interplay between gene regulation, noise and cell proliferation in cell differentiations caused by chemical and spatial cues as well as genetic perturbations. We use computer model to analyze the data, which provides insights into the direction and robustness of cell fate control. We hope to develop new strategies to improve the directed stem cell differentiation in regenerative medicine.
Publications, Achievements, and Grants: