Dong Yan
Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuit formation during development and degeneration in aging. In my lab, We use a free-living tiny roundworm, called Caenorhabditis elegans , as a model. The defined cell lineage, completely mapped connectome and rapid life cycle of this organism greatly facilitate investigating nervous system at the subcellular resolution. Combining classic genetic analysis with in vivo  live imaging technique and molecular and cellular manipulations, we are discovering conserved mechanisms playing key roles in neural circuit formation, gap junction dynamics and neurodegeneration

Current Appointments & Affiliations

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