Welcome to the Kennedy Lab

Positions available. Contact Kennedy(at)genetics.med.harvard.edu for details

Introduction

DNA contains the blueprint for life. Deciphering this blueprint requires transcribing DNA (genes) into RNA and then translating this RNA into protein. Precise control of when and where genes are expressed is essential for every aspect of reproduction, growth, and development. Misregulation of gene expression underlies the etiology of many human diseases, such as cancer. In addition to acting as a messenger for gene expression, RNA performs a number of other essential functions in the cell. For instance, many RNAs do not encode proteins (termed non-coding RNA) and yet these RNAs still have essential biological functions. Some non-coding RNAs (termed miRNAs) interact with protein-coding RNAs to regulate protein synthesis. Other small non-coding RNAs (termed piRNAs and siRNAs) can act as informational vectors that transmit gene regulatory information through and across generations. These same non-coding RNAs are also an essential line of defense against viral invades and the endogneous nucleic acid parasites termed transposons, which inhabit all genomes. The Kennedy lab is exploring the underlying mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs regulate transcription and chromatin states during reproduction and development, protect host genomes from transposable elements and viruses, and drive the inheritance of epigenetic states across generational boundaries. Summaries of some specific lab projects can be accessed via the links below.