Qi Chen

Qi Chen, MD, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Adjunct - Human Genetics , Primary - Surgery

Divisions: Urology

Qi Chen, MD, PhD, is a leading expert in sperm biology and epigenetic inheritance, whose pioneering research has revealed how a father's health and lifestyle can influence the development and long-term health of his children—without altering their DNA sequence.

Dr. Chen earned his MD from Chongqing Medical University and began his scientific career studying embryo implantation mechanisms at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His early work explored the molecular and biomechanical regulation of embryo positioning and orientation within the uterus, sparking a lifelong interest in reproductive biology.

His doctoral research focused on aquaporins (AQP3) and their critical role in sperm osmoadaptation, uncovering fundamental mechanisms that support sperm function and fertility. Following his PhD, Dr. Chen turned his focus to sperm-borne small RNAs, leading to the groundbreaking discovery of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) and rRNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs)—molecules that carry epigenetic information capable of transmitting environmental influences, such as paternal diet and metabolic conditions, to the next generation.

This work gave rise to what Dr. Chen calls the "sperm RNA code"—a hidden epigenetic layer of biological inheritance that explains how conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity can be passed from father to child through RNA modifications, rather than DNA mutations. His research emphasizes the critical role of paternal health in shaping future generations, especially amid rising rates of metabolic diseases worldwide.

Prior to joining the University of Utah School of Medicine in 2023, Dr. Chen held faculty positions at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (2015–2019) and the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (2019–2023).

Current Research Focus in the Qi Chen Lab:

1. Epigenetic inheritance mediated by sperm RNAs and their associated RNA modifications.
2. Decoding the RNA code: RNA expression and modification patterns linked to gene regulation and disease.
3. Investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving early mammalian embryo symmetry breaking.

Learn more about his research at: http://qichen-lab.info/

In his free time, Dr. Chen enjoys reading and hiking.

Research Statement

Research in Qi Chen lab currently focus on areas below:

1) Epigenetic inheritance mediated by sperm RNAs and RNA modifications.

2) Decoding the ‘sperm RNA code' in human for biomarker development and disease prevention.

3) Molecular and cellular mechanisms in early mammalian embryo symmetry breaking.

For more information, visit our lab website: http://qichen-lab.info/

Education History

Professional Medical Chongqing Medical University
 MD
Graduate Training Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
 PhD

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Zhang L, Li Y, Wang J, Hong C, Lu W, Qu Y, Black SM, Chen Q, Zhou T, Jin W, Duan E, Tang H, Zhang Y (2022). RNA Modification Signature of Peripheral Blood as a Potential Diagnostic Marker for Pulmonary Hypertension. Hypertension, 79(3), e67-e69.
  2. Shi J, Zhang Y, Tan D, Zhang X, Yan M, Zhang Y, Franklin R, Shahbazi M, Mackinlay K, Liu S, Kuhle B, James ER, Zhang L, Qu Y, Zhai Q, Zhao W, Zhao L, Zhou C, Gu W, Murn J, Guo J, Carrell DT, Wang Y, Chen X, Cairns BR, Yang XL, Schimmel P, Zernicka-Goetz M, Cheloufi S, Zhang Y, Zhou T, Chen Q (2021). PANDORA-seq expands the repertoire of regulatory small RNAs by overcoming RNA modifications. Nat Cell Biol, 23(4), 424-436.
  3. Qu Y, Chen Q, Guo S, Ma C, Lu Y, Shi J, Liu S, Zhou T, Noda T, Qian J, Zhang L, Zhu X, Lei X, Cao Y, Li W, Li W, Plachta N, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M, Duan E, Zhang Y, Wang H (2021). Cooperation-based sperm clusters mediate sperm oviduct entry and fertilization. Protein Cell, 12(10), 810-817.
  4. Liu C, Liu H, Zhang H, Wang L, Li M, Cai F, Wang X, Wang L, Zhang R, Yang S, Liu W, Liang Y, Wang L, Song X, Su S, Gao H, Jiang J, Li J, Luo M, Gao F, Chen Q, Li W, Chen ZJ (2021). Paternal USP26 mutations raise Klinefelter syndrome risk in the offspring of mice and humans. EMBO J, 40(13), e106864.
  5. Wang J, Xie X, Shi J, He W, Chen Q, Chen L, Gu W, Zhou T (2020). Denoising Autoencoder, A Deep Learning Algorithm, Aids the Identification of A Novel Molecular Signature of Lung Adenocarcinoma. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics, 18(4), 468-480.
  6. Gu W, Shi J, Liu H, Zhang X, Zhou JJ, Li M, Zhou D, Li R, Lv J, Wen G, Zhu S, Qi T, Li W, Wang X, Wang Z, Zhu H, Zhou C, Knox KS, Wang T, Chen Q, Qian Z, Zhou T (2020). Peripheral blood non-canonical small non-coding RNAs as novel biomarkers in lung cancer. Mol Cancer, 19(1), 159.
  7. Zhang X, Trebak F, Souza LAC, Shi J, Zhou T, Kehoe PG, Chen Q, Feng Earley Y (2020). Small RNA modifications in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis, 145, 105058.
  8. Sui Y, Meng Z, Park SH, Lu W, Livelo C, Chen Q, Zhou T, Zhou C (2020). Myeloid-specific deficiency of pregnane X receptor decreases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice. J Lipid Res, 61(5), 696-706.
  9. Wang J, Wang L, Feng G, Wang Y, Li Y, Li X, Liu C, Jiao G, Huang C, Shi J, Zhou T, Chen Q, Liu Z, Li W, Zhou Q (2018). Asymmetric Expression of LincGET Biases Cell Fate in Two-Cell Mouse Embryos. Cell, 175(7), 1887-1901.e18.
  10. Chen Q, Shi J, Tao Y, Zernicka-Goetz M (2018). Tracing the origin of heterogeneity and symmetry breaking in the early mammalian embryo. Nat Commun, 9(1), 1819.
  11. Zhang Y, Zhang X, Shi J, Tuorto F, Li X, Liu Y, Liebers R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qian J, Pahima M, Liu Y, Yan M, Cao Z, Lei X, Cao Y, Peng H, Liu S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Woolsey R, Quilici D, Zhai Q, Li L, Zhou T, Yan W, Lyko F, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Duan E, Chen Q (2018). Dnmt2 mediates intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired metabolic disorders through sperm small non-coding RNAs. Nat Cell Biol, 20(5), 535-540.
  12. Shi J, Ko EA, Sanders KM, Chen Q, Zhou T (2018). SPORTS1.0: A Tool for Annotating and Profiling Non-coding RNAs Optimized for rRNA- and tRNA-derived Small RNAs. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics, 16(2), 144-151.
  13. Durnin L, Kwok B, Kukadia P, McAvera R, Corrigan RD, Ward SM, Zhang Y, Chen Q, Koh SD, Sanders KM, Mutafova-Yambolieva VN (2019). An ex vivo bladder model with detrusor smooth muscle removed to analyse biologically active mediators released from the suburothelium. J Physiol, 597(6), 1467-1485.
  14. Huang L, Meng TG, Ma XS, Wang ZB, Qi ST, Chen Q, Zhang QH, Liang QX, Wang ZW, Hu MW, Guo L, Ouyang YC, Hou Y, Zhao Y, Sun QY (2019). Rad9a is involved in chromatin decondensation and post-zygotic embryo development in mice. Cell Death Differ, 26(5), 969-980.
  15. Zhou T, Xie X, Li M, Shi J, Zhou JJ, Knox KS, Wang T, Chen Q, Gu W (2018). Rat BodyMap transcriptomes reveal unique circular RNA features across tissue types and developmental stages. RNA, 24(11), 1443-1456.
  16. Qian J, Zhang Y, Qu Y, Zhang L, Shi J, Zhang X, Liu S, Kim BH, Hwang SJ, Zhou T, Chen Q, Ward SM, Duan E, Zhang Y (2018). Caffeine consumption during early pregnancy impairs oviductal embryo transport, embryonic development and uterine receptivity in mice. Biol Reprod, 99(6), 1266-1275.
  17. Qiao J, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Peng H, Chen Q, Zhang H, Zheng X, Jin Y, Ni H, Duan E, Guo Y (2017). GPR39 is region-specifically expressed in mouse oviduct correlating with the Zn(2+) distribution. Theriogenology, 88, 98-105.
  18. Chen Q, Yan M, Cao Z, Li X, Zhang Y, Shi J, Feng GH, Peng H, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Qian J, Duan E, Zhai Q, Zhou Q (2016). Sperm tsRNAs contribute to intergenerational inheritance of an acquired metabolic disorder. Science, 351(6271), 397-400.
  19. Shi J, Chen Q, Li X, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Qiao J, Tang F, Tao Y, Zhou Q, Duan E (2015). Dynamic transcriptional symmetry-breaking in pre-implantation mammalian embryo development revealed by single-cell RNA-seq. Development, 142(20), 3468-77.
  20. Zhang Y, Chen Q, Zhang H, Wang Q, Li R, Jin Y, Wang H, Ma T, Qiao J, Duan E (2015). Aquaporin-dependent excessive intrauterine fluid accumulation is a major contributor in hyper-estrogen induced aberrant embryo implantation. Cell Res, 25(1), 139-42.
  21. Deng Z, Lei X, Zhang X, Zhang H, Liu S, Chen Q, Hu H, Wang X, Ning L, Cao Y, Zhao T, Zhou J, Chen T, Duan E (2015). mTOR signaling promotes stem cell activation via counterbalancing BMP-mediated suppression during hair regeneration. J Mol Cell Biol, 7(1), 62-72.
  22. Zhang S, Kong S, Wang B, Cheng X, Chen Y, Wu W, Wang Q, Shi J, Zhang Y, Wang S, Lu J, Lydon JP, DeMayo F, Pear WS, Han H, Lin H, Li L, Wang H, Wang YL, Li B, Chen Q, Duan E, Wang H (2014). Uterine Rbpj is required for embryonic-uterine orientation and decidual remodeling via Notch pathway-independent and -dependent mechanisms. Cell Res, 24(8), 925-42.
  23. Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Shi J, Zhang H, Cao Z, Gao X, Ren W, Ning Y, Ning L, Cao Y, Chen Y, Ji W, Chen ZJ, Chen Q, Duan E (2014). Identification and characterization of an ancient class of small RNAs enriched in serum associating with active infection. J Mol Cell Biol, 6(2), 172-4.
  24. Wang H, Wan H, Li X, Liu W, Chen Q, Wang Y, Yang L, Tang H, Zhang X, Duan E, Zhao X, Gao F, Li W (2014). Atg7 is required for acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis in mice. Cell Res, 24(7), 852-69.
  25. Lei X, Deng Z, Zhang H, Zhao H, Zhou J, Liu S, Chen Q, Ning L, Cao Y, Wang X, Zhang X, Duan E (2014). Rotary suspension culture enhances mesendoderm differentiation of embryonic stem cells through modulation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Stem Cell Rev Rep, 10(4), 526-38.
  26. Fu Z, Wang B, Wang S, Wu W, Wang Q, Chen Y, Kong S, Lu J, Tang Z, Ran H, Tu Z, He B, Zhang S, Chen Q, Jin W, Duan E, Wang H, Wang YL, Li L, Wang F, Gao S, Wang H (2014). Integral proteomic analysis of blastocysts reveals key molecular machinery governing embryonic diapause and reactivation for implantation in mice. Biol Reprod, 90(3), 52.
  27. Wang Q, Lu J, Zhang S, Wang S, Wang W, Wang B, Wang F, Chen Q, Duan E, Leitges M, Kispert A, Wang H (2013). Wnt6 is essential for stromal cell proliferation during decidualization in mice. Biol Reprod, 88(1), 5.
  28. Zhang H, Zhang Y, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Chen Q, Peng H, Lei L, Qiao J, Shi J, Cao Z, Duan E, Jin Y (2013). Hormonal regulation of ovarian bursa fluid in mice and involvement of aquaporins. PLoS One, 8(5), e63823.
  29. Zhang Q, Chen Q, Lu X, Zhou Z, Zhang H, Lin HY, Duan E, Zhu C, Tan Y, Wang H (2013). CUL1 promotes trophoblast cell invasion at the maternal-fetal interface. Cell Death Dis, 4(2), e502.
  30. Peng H, Shi J, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Liao S, Li W, Lei L, Han C, Ning L, Cao Y, Zhou Q, Chen Q, Duan E (2012). A novel class of tRNA-derived small RNAs extremely enriched in mature mouse sperm. Cell Res, 22(11), 1609-12.
  31. Chen Q, Peng H, Lei L, Zhang Y, Kuang H, Cao Y, Shi QX, Ma T, Duan E (2011). Aquaporin3 is a sperm water channel essential for postcopulatory sperm osmoadaptation and migration. Cell Res, 21(6), 922-33.
  32. Chen Q, Zhang Y, Peng H, Lei L, Kuang H, Zhang L, Ning L, Cao Y, Duan E (2011). Transient {beta}2-adrenoceptor activation confers pregnancy loss by disrupting embryo spacing at implantation. J Biol Chem, 286(6), 4349-56.
  33. Peng H, Zhang Y, Lei L, Chen Q, Yue J, Tan Y, Duan E (2011). Aquaporin 7 expression in postimplantation mouse uteri: a potential role for glycerol transport in uterine decidualization. Fertil Steril, 95(4), 1514-7.e1-3.
  34. Kuang H, Chen Q, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Peng H, Ning L, Cao Y, Duan E (2009). The cytokine gene CXCL14 restricts human trophoblast cell invasion by suppressing gelatinase activity. Endocrinology, 150(12), 5596-605.
  35. Kuang H, Chen Q, Fan X, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Peng H, Cao Y, Duan E (2009). CXCL14 inhibits trophoblast outgrowth via a paracrine/autocrine manner during early pregnancy in mice. J Cell Physiol, 221(2), 448-57.
  36. Zhang L, Guo W, Chen Q, Fan X, Zhang Y, Duan E (2009). Adam12 plays a role during uterine decidualization in mice. Cell Tissue Res, 338(3), 413-21.
  37. Peng H, Chen Q, Tan Y (2009). Frequent ejaculation associated free radical and lactic acid accumulation cause noninfectious inflammation and muscle dysfunction: a potential mechanism for symptoms in Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Med Hypotheses, 73(3), 372-3.
  38. Kuang H, Zhang L, Peng J, Chen Q (2009). Premature ovarian failure, menopause and ovarian cancer, three nodes on the same string: Pten and other potential genes on the go. Med Hypotheses, 73(6), 961-2.
  39. Zhang Y, Peng S, Kuang H, Chen Q, Liu S, Zhang L, Duan E (2009). Expression and regulation of Dickkopf2 during periimplantation in mice. J Reprod Dev, 55(1), 17-22.
  40. Peng S, Li J, Miao C, Jia L, Hu Z, Zhao P, Li J, Zhang Y, Chen Q, Duan E (2008). Dickkopf-1 secreted by decidual cells promotes trophoblast cell invasion during murine placentation. Reproduction, 135(3), 367-75.
  41. Zhu L, Zhou T, Iyyappan R, Ming H, Dvoran M, Wang Y, Chen Q, Roberts RM, Susor A, Jiang (2022). High-resolution ribosome profiling reveals translational selectivity for transcripts in bovine preimplantation embryo development. Development (Cambridge, England), 149(21),
  42. Zhang X, Shi J, Thakore P, Gonzales AL, Earley S, Chen Q, Zhou T, Earley Y (2024). Mitochondrial small RNA alterations associated with increased lysosome activity in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model uncovered by PANDORA-seq. bioRxiv,
  43. Kodali S, Proietti L, Valcarcel G, López-Rubio AV, Pessina P, Eder T, Shi J, Jen A, Lupión-Garcia N, Starner AC, Bartels MD, Cui Y, Sands CM, Planas-Riverola A, Martínez A, Velasco-Hernandez T, Tomás-Daza L, Alber B, Manhart G, Mayer IM, Kollmann K, Fatica A, Menendez P, Shishkova E, Rau RE, Javierre BM, Coon J, Chen Q, Van Nostrand EL, Sardina JL, Grebien F, Di Stefano (2024). RNA sequestration in P-bodies sustains myeloid leukaemia. Nature cell biology, 26(10), 1745-1758.
  44. Yuan X, Su Y, Johnson B, Kirchner M, Zhang X, Xu S, Jiang S, Wu J, Shi S, Russo JJ, Chen Q, Zhang (2024). Mass Spectrometry-Based Direct Sequencing of tRNAs De Novo and Quantitative Mapping of Multiple RNA Modifications. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146(37), 25600-25613.
  45. Hernandez R, Li X, Shi J, Dave TR, Zhou T, Chen Q, Zhou (2024). Paternal hypercholesterolemia elicits sex-specific exacerbation of atherosclerosis in offspring. JCI insight, 9(17),
  46. Wang X, Yu D, Yu J, Hu H, Hang R, Amador Z, Chen Q, Chai J, Chen (2024). Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing proteins have NAD-RNA decapping activity. Nature communications, 15(1), 2261.
  47. Xue Y, Gong Y, Li X, Peng F, Ding G, Zhang Z, Shi J, Savul IS, Xu Y, Chen Q, Han L, Mao S, Sun (2023). Sex differences in paternal arsenic-induced intergenerational metabolic effects are mediated by estrogen. Cell & bioscience, 13(1), 165.
  48. Holmes AD, Chan PP, Chen Q, Ivanov P, Drouard L, Polacek N, Kay MA, Lowe T (2023). A standardized ontology for naming tRNA-derived RNAs based on molecular origin. Nature methods, 20(5), 627-628.
  49. Hernandez R, Shi J, Liu J, Li X, Wu J, Zhao L, Zhou T, Chen Q, Zhou (2023). PANDORA-Seq unveils the hidden small noncoding RNA landscape in atherosclerosis of LDL receptor-deficient mice. Journal of lipid research, 64(4), 100352.
  50. Zhang X, Shi J, Thakore P, Gonzales AL, Earley S, Chen Q, Zhou T, Feng Earley (2025). Mitochondrial Small RNA Alterations Associated with Increased Lysosome Activity in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model Uncovered by PANDORA-seq. International journal of molecular sciences, 26(7),
  51. Shi J, Zhang Y, Li Y, Zhang L, Zhang X, Yan M, Chen Q, Zhang (2025). Optimized identification and characterization of small RNAs with PANDORA-seq. Nature protocols,
  52. Cai C, Yu J, Zhang X, Zhou T, Chen (2025). A model for propagation of RNA structural memory through biomolecular condensates. Nature cell biology,
  53. Rawal HC, Chen Q, Zhou (2025). FUSION: a family-level integration approach for robust differential analysis of small non-coding RNAs. Bioinformatics (Oxford, England),
  54. Pessina P, Nevo M, Shi J, Kodali S, Casas E, Cui Y, Richards AL, Park EJ, Chen X, Levin-Ferreyra F, Rivera Tostado A, Stevenson E, Krogan NJ, Swaney DL, Ying Q, Chen Q, Brumbaugh J, Di Stefano (2025). Selective RNA sequestration in biomolecular condensates directs cell fate transitions. Nature biotechnology,
  55. Li X, Hernandez R, Zhang X, Tang S, Yuan X, Wu J, Pham K, Rawal HC, Heinrich EC, Zhang S, Chen Q, Zhou T, Zhou (2025). A cholesterol-responsive hepatic tRNA-derived small RNA regulates cholesterol homeostasis and atherosclerosis development. Nature communications, 16(1), 11043.
  56. Admoni Y, Lewandowska M, Aharoni R, Shi J, Zhang X, Chen Q, Moran (2026). Characterization of RNA interference in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis reveals partial target silencing but lack of small RNA amplification. PLoS biology, 24(1), e3003589.
  57. Shi J, Zhang X, Cai C, Liu S, Yu J, James ER, Liu L, Emery BR, McMurray Bires MR, Torres-Arce E, Rawal HC, Ramsay J, Kunisaki J, Zhou C, Milstone DS, Patti ME, Yang X, Jenkins TG, Quinlan A, Cairns BR, Schimmel P, Hotaling JM, Aston KI, Zhou T, Chen (2026). Conserved shifts in sperm small non-coding RNA profiles during mouse and human aging. The EMBO journal,

Review

  1. Shi J, Zhou T, Chen Q (2022). Exploring the expanding universe of small RNAs. [Review]. Nat Cell Biol, 24, (4), 415-423.
  2. Chen Q, Zhang X, Shi J, Yan M, Zhou T (2021). Origins and evolving functionalities of tRNA-derived small RNAs. [Review]. Trends Biochem Sci, 46, (10), 790-804.
  3. Qian J, Chen Q, Ward SM, Duan E, Zhang Y (2020). Impacts of Caffeine during Pregnancy. [Review]. Trends Endocrinol Metab, 31, (3), 218-227.
  4. Zhang Y, Shi J, Rassoulzadegan M, Tuorto F, Chen Q (2019). Sperm RNA code programmes the metabolic health of offspring. [Review]. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 15, (8), 489-498.
  5. Zhang Y, Chen Q (2019). The expanding repertoire of hereditary information carriers. [Review]. Development, 146, (6).
  6. Shi J, Zhang Y, Zhou T, Chen Q (2019). tsRNAs: The Swiss Army Knife for Translational Regulation. [Review]. Trends Biochem Sci, 44, (3), 185-189.
  7. Zhang X, Cozen AE, Liu Y, Chen Q, Lowe TM (2016). Small RNA Modifications: Integral to Function and Disease. [Review]. Trends Mol Med, 22, (12), 1025-1034.
  8. Chen Q, Yan W, Duan E (2016). Epigenetic inheritance of acquired traits through sperm RNAs and sperm RNA modifications. [Review]. Nat Rev Genet, 17, (12), 733-743.
  9. Chen Q, Zhang Y, Elad D, Jaffa AJ, Cao Y, Ye X, Duan E (2013). Navigating the site for embryo implantation: biomechanical and molecular regulation of intrauterine embryo distribution. [Review]. Mol Aspects Med, 34, (5), 1024-42.
  10. Chen Q, Duan EK (2011). Aquaporins in sperm osmoadaptation: an emerging role for volume regulation. [Review]. Acta Pharmacol Sin, 32, (6), 721-4.
  11. Chen Q, Zhang Y, Lu J, Wang Q, Wang S, Cao Y, Wang H, Duan E (2009). Embryo-uterine cross-talk during implantation: the role of Wnt signaling. [Review]. Mol Hum Reprod, 15, (4), 215-21.
  12. Yu J, Zhang X, Cai C, Zhou T, Chen (2025). Small RNA and Toll-like receptor interactions: origins and disease mechanisms. Trends in biochemical sciences,
  13. Kuhle B, Chen Q, Schimmel (2023). tRNA renovatio: Rebirth through fragmentation. Molecular cell, 83(22), 3953-3971.
  14. Chen Q, Zhou (2023). Emerging functional principles of tRNA-derived small RNAs and other regulatory small RNAs. The Journal of biological chemistry, 299(10), 105225.
  15. Chen (2022). Sperm RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance in mammals: challenges and opportunities. Reproduction, fertility, and development, 35(2), 118-124.

Commentary

  1. Zhang Y, Chen Q (2020). Human sperm RNA code senses dietary sugar. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 16(4), 200-201.
  2. Zhang X, Chen Q (2020). A Twist between ROS and Sperm-Mediated Intergenerational Epigenetic Inheritance. Mol Cell, 78(3), 371-373.
  3. Liu Y, Chen Q (2018). 150 years of Darwin's theory of intercellular flow of hereditary information. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 19(12), 749-750.
  4. Zhang Y, Shi J, Chen Q (2017). tsRNAs: new players in mammalian retrotransposon control. Cell Res, 27(11), 1307-1308.
  5. Shi J, Zhang X, Liu Y, Chen Q (2017). Epigenetic information in gametes: Gaming from before fertilization: Comment on "Epigenetic game theory: How to compute the epigenetic control of maternal-to-zygotic transition" by Qian Wang et al. Phys Life Rev, 20 146-149.
  6. Shi J, Zhang Y, Chen Q (2016). Molecular carriers of acquired inheritance: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Environ Epigenet, 2(2), dvw014.
  7. Cai C, Chen (2024). Father's diet influences son's metabolic health through sperm RNA. Nature, 630(8017), 571-573.
  8. Zhang Y, Shi J, Chen (2023). Towards the understanding of "Herbal RNA Code" for traditional medicine. Cell research, 33(12), 900-901.
  9. Lai LB, Gopalan V, Jansson MD, Chen Q, Zhang X, Wolfram-Schauerte M, Höfer (2023). Making nucleic acid structures and schematics. Trends in biochemical sciences, 48(8), 655-658.
  10. Zhang X, Chen (2023). EDC exposure in 3D genome memory in transgenerational obesity. Nature reviews. Endocrinology, 19(4), 192-193.
  11. Zhang Y, Chen (2025). Tracing cell fates in embryos. eLife, 14,