Advances in Cellular and Molecular Regulation of Mammalian Meiosis and Other Model Organisms

Dear Colleagues,

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that is essential for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, gametes with half of chromosome complements of the parental cells are produced through a single round of DNA replication followed by two successive rounds of cell divisions. For successful production of euploid gametes, many unique molecular processes occur in meiosis, specifically the pairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes, and the formation and repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks. Chromatin architecture, chromosome movements, gene expression, and epigenetic modifications also show specific features in germ cells. Interestingly, males and females from the same species usually shows substantial differences in meiosis in many aspects, indicating this process is differently modified across the two sexes. Defects in meiosis are the leading cause of primary sterility, spontaneous miscarriages, and congenital disorders. Therefore, understanding the fundamental mechanism underlying the regulation of meiosis is very important, not only for precise diagnosis but also for the development of new strategies to prevent or treat meiotic defects-related diseases.

With the development of cutting-edge technologies and molecular tools, such as super-resolution imaging and single-cell multi-omics, our understanding of meiosis has progressed rapidly.

This Special Issue aims to present the most recent advances in the cellular and molecular regulation of meiosis mainly in mammals and some other model organisms. Original research, review, and mini-review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Qing-Hua Shi
Prof. Dr. Heng-Yu Fan
Prof. Dr. Liangran Zhang
Guest Editors

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