H. Kaessmann

Developmental origins and evolution of pallial cell types and structures in birds

The paper characterizes the avian pallium's cell types and evolution using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, revealing conserved and divergent features across amniotes.

A male-essential microRNA is key for avian sex chromosome dosage compensation

This study identifies miR-2954 as a male-essential microRNA critical for avian sex chromosome dosage compensation, showing its role in balancing gene expression in males and females.

Cell-state plasticity drives heterogeneity in Group 3/4 medulloblastoma

This study identifies cell-state plasticity as a driver of heterogeneity in Group 3/4 medulloblastomas, showing that transcription factor perturbation can redirect tumor cells along different differentiation trajectories.

Medulloblastoma oncogene aberrations are not involved in tumor initiation, but essential for disease progression and therapy resistance

The paper uses single-cell technologies to show that large-scale chromosomal aberrations drive medulloblastoma initiation, while single-gene oncogenic events like MYC contribute to progression and therapy resistance.

Reconstructing the ancestral vertebrate brain using a lamprey neural cell type atlas

This study reconstructs the ancestral vertebrate brain by comparing a lamprey neural cell type atlas with data from jawed vertebrates, identifying shared features and evolutionary novelties.

Cellular development and evolution of the mammalian cerebellum

This study uses single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to compare cerebellar development across human, mouse, and opossum, revealing conserved and species-specific gene expression patterns.

Mapping pediatric brain tumors to their origins in the developing cerebellum

The paper maps the cellular origins of three common pediatric brain tumors using a single-nucleus atlas and transcriptome data, identifying lineage-specific origins and potential therapeutic targets.

The molecular evolution of spermatogenesis across mammals

This study analyzes single-nucleus transcriptomes from testes across eleven mammalian species to uncover molecular evolution patterns in spermatogenesis.

Circular RNA repertoires are associated with evolutionarily young transposable elements

The paper analyzes circRNA repertoires across five species and finds that most circRNAs arise from non-conserved exonic loci and are linked to young, species-specific transposable elements, suggesting convergent evolution rather than functional conservation.