The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), under the Human Genome Research (CFDA 93.172) federal grant program, awarded a $158,509 Project Grant to Rockefeller University to establish a novel model system for studying germline selection mechanisms using the germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) of songbirds. The project aims to: 1) Derive a high-quality GRC assembly through long-read sequencing of flow-sorted testicular tissue; 2) Leverage single-cell multi-omic datasets to identify how GRC gene paralog variations impact germline gene regulatory networks; and 3) Apply CRISPR gene editing in the zebra finch germline to elucidate the functional significance of GRC genes in maintaining germline fitness. This research is expected to advance the understanding of genetic regulation, evolutionary processes, and the assessment of complex genomic elements, with broad implications for biomedical research.
Generated 3/4/25, 5:47 AM