Chengtian Zhao Lab

Cilia exist in many phyla from protozoa to mammalian cells and play diverse biological functions. Disruption in cilia function has been linked to many human genetic disorders, collectively termed as ciliopathies. Our lab is interested in the study of mechanisms underlying ciliogenesis using multiple organisms, including zebrafish, placozoa and ciliates. Currently, the main focus of our lab include: 1) The mechanisms of body axis development regulated by cilia-driven cerebrospinal fluid; 2) Degeneration and renewal of photoreceptor cells; 3) Role of cilia and ciliary genes in ciliopathies; 4) Functional evolution of cilia.