Dónal O’Carroll is a germline and RNA biologist. The germline is the cell lineage that gives rise to the egg and sperm cells. The continuity and health of the germline is of paramount importance for the propagation of life. RNA-directed DNA methylation silences transposons, also known as jumping genes, that pose an existential threat to the germline. His work has been transformative, providing the first mechanistic understanding of RNA-directed DNA methylation, a previously intractable process that is at the core of germline immortality.
Egg cell RNA is the blueprint for early life. The regulation and utilisation of these RNAs are essential for early development and fertility. He discovered key regulatory RNA mechanisms that are required for the formation and metabolism of the mammalian egg cell RNA repertoire.
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation. He is currently the Chair of Stem Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh, with laboratories at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Centre for Cell Biology.
Professional position
- Chair of Stem Cell Biology, Centre for Cell Biology and Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
