Principles and programming of the mammalian germ line

Primordial germ cells, which give rise to eggs and sperm, are the focus of Professor Surani's research. These cells generate totipotency, which allows transmission of genetic and epigenetic information to a new individual and subsequent generations. Professor Surani's studies on mammalian germ cells will aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of how germ cells are formed and how they acquire their unique properties, and to inform the application of this knowledge towards manipulation of normal and aberrant cell fates.