Germ cells are the only cells in the organism that can transmit the genetic material of the parents to the offspring. In all sexually reproducing organisms, gametogenesis includes spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Both are derived from primordial germ cells and undergo a series of highly regulated processes of mitosis, meiosis and maturation. Any stagnation or abnormality in gametogenesis will lead to infertility. In humans, infertility is a serious social problem, affecting 12-15% of couples of reproductive age. It has been estimated that nearly 50% of infertility cases are due to genetic defects. In addition, factors such as the environment, smoking, and alcohol abuse can also interfere with the normal process of gametogenesis, thereby causing infertility. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanism of gametogenesis and the pathogenesis of infertility caused by abnormal gametogenesis will facilitate the search for potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Current research on this aspect mainly focuses on single omics, that is, the corresponding changes in a certain level of biomolecules (DNAs, RNAs, proteins, small molecule metabolites, etc.). Since genomics tells us what may happen, transcriptomics and proteomics tell us what is going to happen, and metabolomics tells us what is going on. There are huge differences between different omics, and multi-omics can provide researchers with a greater understanding of the flow of information, from the original cause of disease to the functional consequences or relevant interactions. That is why we need to perform multi-omics joint analysis. Systematically studying the interactions among DNAs, RNAs, proteins and small molecules provides new insights into the basic developmental process of gametogenesis and the pathogenic mechanism of infertility.
We welcome investigators to contribute Original Research as well as Review articles on the developmental process of gametogenesis or the pathogenesis of infertility diseases through joint analysis of multi-omics, such as genomics, epigenetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
Germ cells are the only cells in the organism that can transmit the genetic material of the parents to the offspring. In all sexually reproducing organisms, gametogenesis includes spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Both are derived from primordial germ cells and undergo a series of highly regulated processes of mitosis, meiosis and maturation. Any stagnation or abnormality in gametogenesis will lead to infertility. In humans, infertility is a serious social problem, affecting 12-15% of couples of reproductive age. It has been estimated that nearly 50% of infertility cases are due to genetic defects. In addition, factors such as the environment, smoking, and alcohol abuse can also interfere with the normal process of gametogenesis, thereby causing infertility. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanism of gametogenesis and the pathogenesis of infertility caused by abnormal gametogenesis will facilitate the search for potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Current research on this aspect mainly focuses on single omics, that is, the corresponding changes in a certain level of biomolecules (DNAs, RNAs, proteins, small molecule metabolites, etc.). Since genomics tells us what may happen, transcriptomics and proteomics tell us what is going to happen, and metabolomics tells us what is going on. There are huge differences between different omics, and multi-omics can provide researchers with a greater understanding of the flow of information, from the original cause of disease to the functional consequences or relevant interactions. That is why we need to perform multi-omics joint analysis. Systematically studying the interactions among DNAs, RNAs, proteins and small molecules provides new insights into the basic developmental process of gametogenesis and the pathogenic mechanism of infertility.
We welcome investigators to contribute Original Research as well as Review articles on the developmental process of gametogenesis or the pathogenesis of infertility diseases through joint analysis of multi-omics, such as genomics, epigenetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
