Reproductive Genomics

With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies and their extensive applications in molecular biology since more than one decade ago, fruitful achievements have been made in understanding the underlying mechanisms in developing new lives. Although challenges exist for studying the molecular reproductive biology due to the restricted availability of experimental materials, many advanced experimental approaches have been established to profile molecules in mammalian gametes and embryos at the single-cell level. Together with computational techniques, novel insights into the molecular mechanism of mammalian reproduction have been gained at the genome-wide scale from many respects including genetics, epigenetics, transcriptomics, epitranscriptomics, and etc. These insights will be useful for treating human disorders related to reproduction such as infertility.



This Research Topic focuses on recent progress in reproductive biology and reproductive medicine advanced by genomics approaches. We seek for studies that apply well-established approaches or integrate multiple omics datasets to tackle with important scientific questions related to reproduction, which will provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms in the early development of human or model organisms, or genetic causality in developing related diseases. Meanwhile, we encourage studies on novel experimental and/or computational approaches that are specifically or predominantly applied in reproductive research, preferably with demonstration on the usefulness of the methods developed. Functional studies based on genomics approaches on important genes responsible for gametogenesis and embryogenesis are also welcome.



We welcome submissions of Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review manuscripts focusing on the research themes including, but not limited to, those listed below:

• Genomics approaches for studying reproductive biology, in particular methods for dealing with a small amount of experimental materials (for example, single-cell omics approaches);

• Computational methods to better analyze and interpret reproductive omics data;

• Bioinformatics and deep-learning approaches for integrating reproductive genomics data sets, such as time-course or single-cell multi-omics data;

• RNA-centric approaches for understanding dynamic gene expression regulation during gametogenesis and embryogenesis;

• Integrative analysis of epigeome, genome organization, genome-wide protein-DNA interaction data for advanced understanding of transcriptional regulation during mammalian early development;

• Reconstruction of RNA modification and RNA-centric interaction networks for advanced understanding of the coordinated posttranscriptional regulation in mammalian early development;

• Genomics studies on embryonic stem cells, extended pluripotent stem cells and analogues;

• Cohort studies for identification of genetic factors responsible for reproduction or early development related disorders;

• Mechanisms of genetic variants causing disorders during human gametogenesis or embryogenesis.