Jeannie T. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.

 Our lab studies how male (XY) and female (XX) cells use a mechanism called X-chromosome inactivation to achieve equality of sex chromosome gene expression. Our studies are focused on three noncoding RNA loci whose actions coordinate the many steps of X-chromosome inactivation. We are also interested in the mechanistic and evolutionary relationship between X inactivation and imprinting. Recent work by the Lee Lab suggests that imprinted X-chromosome inactivation is directly connected to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation in the male germline.