Annual Report 2015–16

p 林漢明教授（左）與黃錦波教授展示植物 疍 白的三維模型 Prof. Lam Hon-ming (left) and Prof. Wong Kam-bo show the 3-D model of plant protein t 許浩霖教授 （右四） Prof. Jerome Hui (4th right) Questioning Conventional Wisdom The team of Prof. Jerome Hui of the School of Life Sciences investigated the genomes of three out of the four extant species of horseshoe crabs and discovered that ‘Whole Genome Duplication’ (WGD), a rare situation of evolution that was believed to happen only in vertebrates when the genetic materials get doubled, occurred in all three investigated species. The discovery posed the question that WGD may not be the differentiating factor between vertebrates and invertebates. Rice Protein Research May Lead to Hardier Strains of Rice Also of the School of Life Sciences, Prof. Lam Hon- ming and his research team revealed for the first time the structure and functions of Rice YchF-type G-protein which has important implications for understanding plants’ defence response and stress tolerance. This novel discover y may have a positive impact on the world’s future food supply and safety. 推翻傳統見解 世上僅存四種鱟類（又稱馬蹄蟹）， 而生命科學學院許浩霖教授率領的 團隊研究了其中三種的基因組，發 現在鱟的進化過程中出現「全基因 組倍增」，即遺傳物質加倍的罕見情 況，是一種過去人們認為只發生在脊 椎動物身上的現象。這項研究顯示， 全基因組倍增或不適用作區分無脊 椎動物和脊椎動物的因素。 水稻蛋白質研究或有助培育 抗逆稻米品種 生命科學學院林漢明教授領導的研 究團隊，首次破解水稻 YchF 類 G 蛋白 之結構與功能，大大增加科學家對 植物抗病耐逆能力的了解。這項新 發現日後或有助於增加世界的糧食 供應和改善食品安全。 31 精研憑格物 推陳以致知 Research—Pushing Knowledge Frontiers