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Teaching Staff

Professor CHENG, Shifeng

Professor CHENG, Shifeng

Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, HKU

BSc(Hubei University, Biological Sciences); MPhil(Shenzhen University, Genome Biology); PhD(University of Hong Kong, Computational Biology)

    • 3917 3323
    • 2858 3477
    • KBSB 4N-10

    Teaching Areas

    • Genomics
    • Genetics
    • Evolution
    • Bioinformatics
    • Plant Sciences
    • The History of Science

    Research Interests

    • Plant molecular evolution and comparative genomics
    • Crop population quantitative genetics
    • Origins of evolutionary novelties and phenotypic diversity
    • Gene cis-/trans-regulation and evolution
    • Development of enabling technologies (e.g., AI, gene editing, spatially-resolved single-cell omics) to understand traits

    Current Research 

    • C4 photosynthesis
    • Nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis
    • Pea genomics and genetics
    • Wheat genomics and genetics

    Fellowships

    • National Leading Scientist of the Ten Thousand Talents Program (‘WanRen’)
    • Excellence Young Scientist Fund (NSFC)
    • Pearl River Talent Team Fund (Chief Scientist)
    • Young Talent Fund in Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

    Selected Publications

    (*first author; † corresponding author. Not all the co-authors are included)

    1) Feng C*, Chen BZ*,  Hofer J*,  Shi Y*, Jiang M*, et al., Ellis N†, Chayut N†, Cheng SF†. Genomic and Genetic Insights into Mendel's Pea Genes. Nature, 642, 980-989. April 23, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08891-6. IF: 50.5

    2) Cheng SF†. Answers to a 160-year-old riddle about the genetics of Mendel’s pea traits. Nature (Research Briefing). April 23, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01164-2. IF: 50.5

    3) Cheng SF*†, Feng C*, et al., Griffiths S†. Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding. Nature, 632, 823-831. June 17, 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07682-9. IF: 50.5

    4) Cheng SF†. Gregor Mendel: The father of genetics who opened a biological world full of wonders. Molecular Plant (comment). 15(11):1641-1645. November 7, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.10.013. IF: 24.1

    5) Cheng SF*†, Wong G, Melkonian M†. Giant DNA viruses make big strides in eukaryote evolution. Cell Host & Microbe (perspective). 29(2):152-154. February 10, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.01.008. IF: 18.7

    6) Cheng SF*, Xian WF*, Fu Y, Marin B, Keller J, Wu T, et al., Wong G†, Melkonian M†. Genomes of Subaerial Zygnematophyceae Provide Insights into Land Plant Evolution. Cell, 179(5):1057-1067.e14. November 14, 2019,  DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.20 19.10.019. IF: 42.5  

    7) Griesmann M, Chang Y, Liu Xi, Song Y, Haberer G, et al., Parniske M†, Delaux P†, Cheng SF†. Phylogenomics reveals multiple independent losses of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis. Science. 361, 6398. May 24, 2018. DOI: 10.1126/ science.aat1743. IF: 45.8

    8）Lin SJ*, Cheng SF*, Song B*, Zhong X*, Lin X*, et al., Morse D. The Symbiodinium kawagutii genome illuminates dinoflagellate gene expression and coral symbiosis. Science. 350(6261): 691-694. November 6, 2015. DOI:10.1126/science.aad0408. IF: 45.8

    Awards and Honours

    • Special Individual Award for Excellence in International Collaboration
    • Excellent Teacher Award
    • Shenzhen Peacock National Leading Talent Award (‘A’ type)

     

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