The rapid advance and expansion of food-related industries and a growing professional and consumer awareness of the relationship between diet and health pose many new challenges and research opportunities. Research themes of Food & Nutritional Science in the School include functional food and molecular nutrition, food toxicology and sensory aspects of food. Below are some examples of our recent research:

 
The biological function of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) genes are elucidated, aiming to enhance the vitamin A content in crops. The figure shows the result of carotenoid degradation in maize seeds encoded by the Wc gene.   FNS-01

 

 

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The giant grouper, green grouper, and mullet are employed in research projects on improving flavor quality of seafood.

 

 

 

Natural constituents in edible plants, fungi and algae that promote our health are investigated. The figure shows subcellular translocation of apoptogenic factor (AIF) induced by selenocystine (SeC) in MCF-7 cells.

 

 

  FNS-03
 

During the past two decades we saw an increasing number of living organisms, including the humans, whose complete genomes were made available by the ever-improving DNA-sequencing technologies. Bioinformatics, also known as computational molecular biology, is a new area of research focusing on the sequence, structural, and functional analysis of genomic data. The importance of genomics and bioinformatics research was best exemplified during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

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MS 01   Research in Marine Science covers phylogeny, biodiversity, ecology and conservation of aquatic systems. Below are some examples of our recent research:

     
Sampling LCW 1000px

 

 

Using stable isotope analysis to elucidate the structure and function of food webs in local soft-sediment habitats and assess trophic connectivity that underpin cross-habitat ecological sustainability.
Website: https://www.ecfsoftshores.msl.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/




 

 

 

A number of nuclear protein-coding genes are used as DNA markers for resolving the phylogenetic relationships among the decapods –arthropods including shrimps, lobsters and crabs.

 

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Analyses of ecosystem functioning, bioindicator assemblages and microbiological status are key attributes of the desirable ecological changes in terms of ecosystem integrity and health, which are of primary concern in ecological restoration.


 

 

Calanus sinicus, a dominant copepod in the continental shelf of northern China, is used as a model organism to study the relationship between plankton distribution and ocean currents.


 

 

 




Studies on coral reef ecology is one of the unique areas of research at CUHK.

 

 

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Facing the worldwide population-based food and health problems especially in the densely populated China, our research in Plant & Agricultural Science aims to generate high-valued agricultural and health products, and to invent and transfer new technologies. Below are some examples of our research approaches:

 

Crop improvement of rice has been done in two ways: improvement of nutritional quality through enhancement of lysine content, and improvement of productivity by increasing photosynthetic efficiency.


 

 

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Engineered minichromosomes in maize are constructed as plant artificial chromosome for future genetic engineering to create crops with novel properties.

 

 

 

Molecular mechanisms of protein trafficking in the plant secretory and endocytic pathways will provide hints for using plants as bioreactors for producing pharmaceuticals.  

 

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Research in Physiology and Developmental Biology investigates fundamental processes including cell and tissue differentiation and functioning of the body systems. Below are some examples of research in this field conducted in our school:

 

Zebrafish is used as the model in functional analyses of the brain-pituitary-ovary axis . Current interests include intrafollicular communication network in the ovary and the molecular biology of gonadotropins and their receptors.

 

 

 

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Salinity adaptation in seabream is dependent on changes in kidney and gill function. In seawater, the kidney excretes excessive ions and retains water but switches to excrete water and conserve ions in freshwater. Gill chloride cells can act as either ion extrusion or absorption devices in seawater or freshwater respectively.

 

 

 

 

Advanced molecular biology and genetic engineering technology are used in studying mammalian embryonic developmental processes, with mouse as the model organism.

 

  PDB 03