Staff／KIKUCHI Yutaka (Professor), TAKAHASHI Haruko (Assistant Professor)

The major interest of our laboratory is to clarify the molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination during development and regeneration. For this purpose, we have been focused on two major research projects: (1) studies on the mechanisms of differentiation, trans-differentiation, and dedifferentiation using zebrafish and cell culture system, (2) studies on the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by chromosomal dynamics.

Key Words　Cell fate, Dedifferentiation, Regeneration, Transcriptional regulation

Staff／CHIHARA Takahiro(Professor), HAMAO Kozue (Associate Professor), OKUMURA Misako (Associate Professor)

Our research goal is to reveal how cell society is constructed and maintained during animal development, growth and aging. To this purpose, we are studying the molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis, cell patterning, cell-cell interaction, and the impact of aging on cells/organisms by using sophisticated Drosophila genetic methods, and molecular and biochemical methods with mammalian cell culture system.

Key Words　Nervous system, Cytokinesis, Cell patterning, Cell-cell interaction, Aging

Staff／IMAMURA Takuya (Professor), UEKI Tatsuya (Associate Professor), MORISHITA Fumihiro (Assistant Professor)

We are studying the brain/nervous system and essential trace elements,that are among the main themes of animal physiology. Recently, we havesucceeded in making a database of promoter-associated non-coding RNA(pancRNA), a group of functional non-coding RNAs, by employing technologies of big data analyses for human and primate brains. We are currently working to elucidate the biological significance of primate-specific non-coding RNA that can be involved in the epigenetic mechanism of neural networking using single-cell level analysis of human brain organoids. Marine animals also have many advantages asresearch materials for physiology, and we are conducting the studieson identification of neuropeptides and related enzymes and the mechanism of their action using Aplysia, and the those on metal accumulation and utilization, and adhesion mechanism, using sea squirts.

Key Words　Brain, neural stem cells, non-coding RNA, single cell level analysis, neuropeptides, amidases, transition metals, redox, electron transport chain

Staff／YAMAGUCHI Tomio (Professor), SHIMAMURA Masaki (Associate Professor)

Research in this laboratory concerns taxonomy, phylogeny, morphology and ecology on nonvascular plants including bryophytes, freshwater algae, lichens, and others. The department maintains a research Herbarium (HIRO) which has an extensive bryophyte collection.

Key Words　Bryophytes, Cryptogams, Taxonomy, Ecology, Anatomy, Cell biology, Molecular phylogeny

Staff／FUKAZAWA Jutarou (Assistant Professor)

This laboratory has focused on the molecular mechanism of cell responses to environmental changes. Our research projects are (1) regulatory mechanisms of gibberellin biosynthesis and signaling, (2) response mechanisms to the environmental stimuli.

Key Words　Plant hormone, Transcriptional regulation, Signal transduction, Kinase, Protein-protein interaction

Staff／MORIGUCHI Kazuki (Lecturer)

Suppose cells obtain genes from entirely different organisms, they can develop new functions rapidly. We focus on phenomena of active gene transfer from bacteria domain to eukarya domain, i.e. T-DNA transport to plants by phytopathogenic agrobacteria, and plasmid DNA mobilization to yeasts by some proteobacteria.

Key Words　Horizontal gene transfer, Plasmid DNA, Conjugation, Bacteria, Eukaryotes

Staff／TAGAWA Kunifumi (Associate Professor), ARIMOTO Asuka (Assistant Professor)

We conduct “Evo-Devo (Evolution and Development)” research in Mukaishima island, Onomichi City, that is located in the “Shimanami Kaido” where is rich in the diversity of marine organisms. Specifically, we study on the origin and evolution of deuterostomes and bilaterians by analyzing comparative developmental biologly and comparative genomics of marine animals such as Ptychodera flava, a species of Hemichordata that is most ancestral deuterostomes and Praesagittifera naikaiensis, a species of Acoelmorph that is most ancestral bilaterian which includes most animals.

Key Words　Marine organisms,　diversity,　Evo-Devo,　acorn worm,　acoelworm, Origin and evolution of detuerostomes and bilaterians

Staff／TSUBOTA Hiromi (Associate Professor)

The Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden is situated along the north coast of Miyajima (Itsukushima) Island, southwestern Japan, ca. 20 km southwest of Hiroshima City. The island is famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is covered with natural forest and maritime vegetation. Our research projects are island biology, phytogeography, ecology, and conservation biology, utilizing the excellent natural resources of Miyajima Island.

Key Words　Island biology, Biodiversity, Phytogeography, Phytosociology, Ecology, Molecular phylogenetics, Cryptogamic botany

Staff／OGINO Hajime (Professor), IGAWA Takeshi (Assistant Professor), SUZUKI Makoto (Assistant Professor), KASHIWAGI Akihiko (Visiting Professor)

We are studying molecular mechanisms of chordate evolution through comparative analysis of gene functions and regulations among the "living fossil" amphioxus, frog and mouse. We are also studying genomic and epigenomic regulation of organ development and regeneration by generating a variety of genetically modified pipid frogs (Xenopus) using leading-edge technologies, such as the high-throughput transgenesis and genome editing.

Key Words　Evolution, Development, Regeneration, Comparative Genomics, Epigenetics, Xenopus, Amphioxus, Bioresource, Pathogenic mutations

Staff／HAYASHI Toshinori (Professor), Suzuki Atsushi (Associate Professor), FURUNO Nobuaki (Associate Professor), NAKAJIMA Keisuke (Assistant Professor), TAZAWA Ichiro (Assistant Professor)

We focus on the molecular mechanism of amphibian development and the differentiation, development and function of endocrine organs by making use of various techniques in experimental embryology, cell biology, molecular biology, gene engineering and genome editing.

Key Words　Oocyte Development and Maturation, Early Development, Regeneration, Metamorphosis,Germ Cell, Environmental Influences

Staff／MIURA Ikuo (Associate Professor)

Current amphibian diversity is a product of the life cycle that has evolved since the birth of life. We engage in pioneering research to reveal the processes and mechanisms mediating diversity, and we strive to maintain and preserve diversity across a wide range of biological hierarchies at the gene–genome–chromosome, cell–tissue, individual, population, species, and higher taxonomic levels.

Key Words　Evolution, Diversity, Phylogenetic System, Sex and Reproduction, Ecology, Preservation, Genome Biology

Staff／KUSABA Makoto (Professor), TOYOKURA Koichi (Assistant Professor), NOBUSAWA Takeshi (Assistant Professor)

We are conserving various Chrysanthemum and cycad species and developing the model species/line of the genus Chrysanthemum. In addition, mutants of the model plant species are isolated and used for the molecular genetic research.

Key Words　Genetic resource, Chrysanthemum, Cycad, Model plant, Mutant, Gene function analysis

2445 Mukaishima-cho, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima,
722-0073
https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/rinkai

1156-2 Mitsumaruko-yama, Miyajima-cho,
Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima, 739-0543
https://www.digital-museum.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/~main/index.php/%E5%AE%AE%E5%B3%B6%E8%87%AA%E7%84%B6%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%E5%AE%9F%E9%A8%93%E6%89%80

1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima-shi, 739-8526
http://amphibian.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/english/ARC_HP_English_ver./english_page.html

1-4-3 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima-shi, 739-8526
https://www.bio.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/shokui/