The Biggest Question for My Science
Session 5 - Unifying Principles of Hierarchical Organization: Assembly, Function, and Dysregulation in Biology
Biology is inherently organized across multiple scales, from molecules to cells, tissues, and systems. Since the introduction of the central dogma, our understanding has evolved beyond the linear flow of genetic information to a more integrative view in which structure and organization underpin biological function.
This organizational principle manifests dynamically at every level of life. In this webinar, Dr. Yi Lin from Tsinghua University will share her insights into how biomolecules assemble into dynamic cellular architectures. Dr. Tian Xue from the University of Science and Technology of China will present research on cellular networks, specifically focusing on the "Eyespot, Retina to Visual Circuits: An evo-devo perspective of the hierarchical cell-organ-system organization of light sensation in living organisms." Dr. Xiaofan Wang from Duke University will delve deeper into how these layers of organization support precise biological and pathological regulation. He will deliver a talk titled "Tumorigenesis: a chaotic process reversing the hierarchical organization of life under evolutionary pressure at the molecular and cellular levels."
Following the presentations, we will engage in discussion to explore emerging principles at the interface of structure and function, aiming to address the following questions:
Is there a unifying logic behind hierarchical organization (e.g., molecules → cells → circuits) in biology?
What drives the interplay between structure and function? How does evolution shape structure to optimize functional output?
Can principles of organization guide new approaches to regulation and therapy? Might targeting the reversal of hierarchical organization offer new avenues for disease therapy?
Date and Time:
l Beijing Time (CST): August 13, 2025, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
l Durham (USA PDT): August 12, 2025, 9:30 - 11:30 PM
Meeting Format: Online @ Zoom
Meeting ID: 360 103 9307
Password: AYSF
Agenda (Beijing Time)
- 9:20 - 9:35 Zoom meeting room open
- 9:35 - 9:40 Opening by Prof. Yi Lin
- 9:40 - 10:00 “Dynamic Assembly Of Biomolecules Into Cellular Architectures”
| Presentation by Prof. Yi Lin (15 mins) and Q&A (5 mins)
- 10:00 - 10:20 “ Eyespot, Retina to Visual Circuits: Evo-devo Perspective of Hierarchical Cell-organ-system Organization of Light Sensation of Life”
| Presentation by Prof. Tian Xue (15 mins) and Q&A (5 mins)
- 10:20 - 10:40 “ Tumorigenesis: a Chaotic Process Reversing The Hierarchical Organization Of Life Under Evolutionary Pressure At The Molecular And Cellular Level”
| Presentation by Prof. Xiaofan Wang (15 mins) and Q&A (5 mins)
- 10:40 - 11:30 Discussion among speakers (30 mins) + Open Q&A (20 mins)
| Moderator: Prof. Yi Lin
| Panelists: Prof. Yi Lin, Prof. Tian Xue and Prof. Xiaofan Wang
- 11:30 Group Photo
Convener (AYS Fellow):
Yi Lin, Associate professor, School of Life Science at Tsinghua University, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Joint Center for Life Science at Tsinghua University and Peking University; 2024 AYS Fellow-Life Science, Asian Young Scientist Fellowship
Yi Lin is an associate professor in the School of Life Science at Tsinghua University. She received her PhD in Biological Sciences from Marquette University in 2014 and later worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She joined Tsinghua University in 2020. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of biomacromolecular phase separation and its relevance to neurodegenerative diseases. She is aimed to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying phase separation and the formation of membrane-less organelles, understand physiological implications of specific phase separation events in the nervous system, and to develop interventions to regulate abnormal phase transitions for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A series of her published work have resolved the dynamic regulatory mechanisms of phase separation in various cellular processes, such as circadian rhythm and neuronal differentiation.
Invited Speakers:
Tian Xue, Professor, the School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China
Dr. Xue has long been engaged in the research of understanding physiological characteristics and signaling mechanisms of light perception, revealing neural circuits involved in this process and exploring methods for vision restoration after photoreceptor degeneration. He has published 70 papers and citations over 7500 times, and his h-index is 40.
Dr. Xue revealed the photo-transduction mechanism of mammalian intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs, a novel type of photoreceptors discovered two decades ago), which is crucial for understanding the kinetodynamic features of light responses in non-image-forming vision (Nature 2011). He also conducts in-depth study on neuronal mechnisms underlying various light-regulated physiological functions, such as the induction of negative mood by nighttime light (Nat. Neurosci., 2020), the promotion of cortical synaptic development by early-life light exposure (Cell, 2022), and the regulation of glucose metabolism by light (Cell, 2023). In another groundbreaking work, he achieved mammalian near-infrared vision using photoreceptor-binding up-conversion nanomaterials, reaching beyond the limits naturally set for visual perception in mammals (Cell 2019).
(Adapted and edited from online sources.)
Xiaofan Wang, Distinguished Professor, School of Medicine, Duke University; Member of the Life Science Selection Committee, Asian Young Scientist Fellowship
Dr. Wang received his bachelor’s degree from Wuhan University and passed the exam for the CUSBEA Program to go to the US in 1982. He received graduate training at University of California, Los Angeles with Ph.D. in 1986 and then spent five years at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral fellow. In 1992 he became an Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical Center. He is currently the Donald and Elizabeth Cooke Professor of Experimental Oncology and Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Medicine.
Dr. Wang focuses his research primarily on elucidating the molecular mechanisms associated with tumor initiation and tumor microenvironment. He has contributed to several important aspects of cancer research including cancer cell signaling pathways, DNA damage responses, functions of miRNAs in tumor development and metastasis, and cellular senescence program in normal and neoplastic tissues.
Dr. Wang is a foreign member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He was elected a Fellow of the AAAS in 2009, received the Ray Wu Award in 2013, International Scientific Cooperation Award from CAS in 2014, Honorary Professor of Tsinghua University in 2019, Tan Jia Zhen International Collaboration Award in 2021, elected as an International Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in 2022. He has served on the scientific advisory committees of many private foundations and academic institutions.
To enrich the AYS Webinar series, we welcome young scientists to raise your "Biggest Questions"! This is a unique chance to engage with thought-provoking topics or ask our expert speakers directly. Your questions will engage discussions and deepen the conversation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute!