Ching-Ho Chang

Incoming Principal Investigator @ Academia Sinica, Taiwan

About Me

Ching-Ho Chang profile picture

Ching-Ho Chang, PhD

Current & Upcoming Roles

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (2020 – Present) Advisor: Dr. Harmit Malik
    Studying the evolution of sperm chromatin and mechanisms ensuring fair gamete transmission.

  • Incoming Principal Investigator
    Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Academia Sinica, Taiwan (Starting 2025)
    Establishing a research program focused on genetic conflicts and chromatin evolution.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biology
    University of Rochester (2014 – 2020)
    Advisor: Dr. Amanda Larracuente
    Thesis: Meiotic Drive and Rapid Genome Evolution in Drosophila

Honors & Fellowships

  • Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021 – 2025)
    Awarded for innovative research on protamine evolution and genetic conflicts in Drosophila.

  • Larry Sandler Memorial Lecture Award (2021)
    Recognized for significant contributions to the field of evolutionary genetics.

Research Focus

My research explores how genetic conflicts—such as meiotic drive and sex chromosome antagonism—propel rapid evolutionary changes in chromatin-associated proteins. Utilizing Drosophila as a model system, I investigate: oai_citation_attribution:4‡sinica.edu.tw

  • Segregation Distorter (SD) System: An autosomal meiotic drive complex that biases transmission by incapacitating competing sperm.

  • Y Chromosome Dynamics: Examining how sex chromosome conflicts lead to structural rearrangements and influence genome evolution.

  • Protamines: Studying the rapid evolution of sperm-specific chromatin proteins and their role in fertility and genomic integrity. oai_citation_attribution:5‡ResearchGate

Methodologies and Expertise

I utilize a multi-faceted approach combining modern genomics with classical techniques:

  • Genomics & Bioinformatics:
    • Applying long-read sequencing technologies for de novo assembly of complex chromosomal regions.
    • Using comparative genomics to identify and analyze structural variations.
    • Integrating RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data to explore the functional implications of structural changes.
    • Employing population genomics to understand the evolutionary dynamics of these changes.
  • Cytogenetics:
    • Performing classical polytene chromosome squashes.
    • Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for visualizing specific DNA sequences on chromosomes.
  • Classical Drosophila Genetics: Leveraging the powerful genetic toolkit available in fruit flies.

I am proficient in these methods and passionate about unraveling the fascinating interplay between genetic conflict and genome evolution.

Selected Publications

  • Chang, C.-H., et al. (2023). Diversification and recurrent adaptation of the synaptonemal complex in Drosophila. eLife.

  • Chang, C.-H., et al. (2022). Expansion and loss of sperm nuclear basic protein genes in Drosophila correspond with genetic conflicts between sex chromosomes. eLife.

  • Chang, C.-H., et al. (2019). Islands of retroelements are major components of Drosophila centromeres. PLoS Biology, 17(5), e3000241.

For a comprehensive list, visit my Google Scholar profile.

Connect with Me

Last updated: April 2025