简介：
依托南方海洋科学与工程广东省实验室（广州）海洋生物演化与保护生物学研究中心，围绕海洋珍稀濒危动物（特别是海洋哺乳动物）的进化历史与系统发育关系、遗传多样性与谱系地理格局、濒危机制与保护对策、次生性水生适应过程中关键表型改变的驱动机制与进化医学资源挖掘等内容开展研究。
研究方向：
(1)海洋动物水生适应的比较基因组学机制；
(2)海洋动物水生适应过程中关键表型改变的驱动机制与进化医学资源挖掘；
(3)珍稀海洋动物的濒危机制与保护。
主要学术论文以及成果：
[1]Zhou, X.#, Guang, X.#, Sun, D.#, Xu, S.#, Li, M., Seim, I., ... & Yang, G.* (2018). Population genomics of finless porpoises reveal an incipient cetacean species adapted to freshwater. Nature Communications, 9(1), 1-8.
[2]Zhou, X.#, Sun, F.#, Xu, S.#, Fan, G., Zhu, K., Liu, X., ... & Yang, G*. (2013). Baiji genomes reveal low genetic variability and new insights into secondary aquatic adaptations. Nature Communications, 4(1), 1-6.
[3]Sun, D., Chai, S., Huang, X., Wang, Y., Xiao, L., Xu, S*., & Yang, G*. (2022). Novel Genomic Insights into Body Size Evolution in Cetaceans and a Resolution of Peto’s Paradox. The American Naturalist, 199(2), E28-E42.
[4]Wang, Z.#, Xu, S.#, Du, K., Huang, F., Chen, Z., Zhou, K., ... & Yang, G*. (2016). Evolution of digestive enzymes and RNASE1 provides insights into dietary switch of cetaceans. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 33(12), 3144-3157.
[5]Yin, D., Zhou, R., Yin, M., Chen, Y., Xu, S*., & Yang, G*. (2021). Gene duplication and loss of AANAT in mammals driven by rhythmic adaptations. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38(9), 3925-3937.
[6]Chai, S., Huang, X., Wu, T., Xu, S., Ren, W*., & Yang, G*. (2021). Comparative genomics reveals molecular mechanisms underlying health and reproduction in cryptorchid mammals. BMC Genomics, 22(1), 1-13.
[7]Chai, S., Tian, R., Bi, J., Xu, S., Yang, G*., & Ren, W*. (2021). Rapid evolution and molecular convergence in cryptorchidism-related genes associated with inherently undescended testes in mammals. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21(1), 1-14.
[8]Chai, S., Tian, R., Xu, S., Ren, W*., & Yang, G*. (2022). Evolution of fertilization-related genes provides insights into reproductive health in natural ascrotal mammals. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 1043.