Every human life begins from a single fertilized egg. To grow into a healthy embryo, this cell must faithfully copy its DNA during the very first cell divisions. Strikingly, approximately 70% of early human embryos contain DNA errors that can arise during this process and contribute to pregnancy loss, infertility, or congenital disorders. Despite their profound consequence, we still do not understand why these errors arise so frequently at the start of human development.

This project aims to uncover how DNA copying is first established when life begins. We will study how DNA is duplicated in the earliest embryonic stages, how information from the egg guides this process, and why it so often fails. Using innovative sequencing and protein analysis methods developed in our lab, combined with carefully designed mouse models, we will identify the causes of early DNA damage. Understanding these earliest DNA copying errors may ultimately help explain why so many pregnancies fail and inform future improvements in fertility treatment and reproductive health.