Supervisor: Anjali Hinch

Every human egg and sperm carries a unique genetic sequence. This diversity is essential for evolution, but it arises through DNA damage and repair processes that also threaten genome integrity. Our research seeks to understand how the genomes of eggs and sperm are generated, and how the molecular processes that shape them create genetic variation while preserving genome stability. We combine large-scale human genomics with experimental model systems to uncover the underlying mechanisms, providing an integrated view of recombination, mutation, and genome maintenance.

DPhil projects in the lab address fundamental questions in reproductive and genome biology, including: (i) how ageing drives the deterioration of human oocytes and contributes to fertility decline, and (ii) the molecular mechanisms that govern meiotic recombination.

Publications

C Henfrey, E Print, G Zhang, R Hinch, I Maudlin, D Moralli, B Davies, P Donnelly, AG Hinch. A genome-wide atlas of meiotic recombination intermediates reveals distinct modes of DNA repair that direct crossovers away from transcriptionally marked genes. bioRxiv (In revision).

R Hinch, P Donnelly, AG Hinch. Meiotic DNA breaks drive multifaceted mutagenesis in the human germ line. Science (2023).

AG Hinch, P Becker, T Li, D Moralli, G Zhang, C Bycroft, C Green, S Keeney, Q Shi, B Davies, P Donnelly. The configuration of RPA, RAD51, and DMC1 in meiosis reveals the nature of critical recombination intermediates. Molecular Cell (2020).

AG Hinch, G Zhang, P Becker, D Moralli, B Davies, R Bowden, P Donnelly. Factors influencing meiotic recombination revealed by whole-genome sequencing of single sperm. Science (2019).