At 15:0O 0n April 26, 2026, Nanchang University hosted a session of its "Academic Activity Month" to celebrate its 105th anniversary. This event, which also served as the 9th session of the 2026 Elite Forum for the School of Life Sciences, was held at the Qianhu Campus in Conference Room B102 of the Science and Life Sciences Building. The forum was presided over by Professor Shanghong Wang, Deputy Dean of the School of Life Sciences. Dr. Dejun Huang from Lanzhou University delivered the primary address. Dr. Huang is a distinguished scholar serving as a doctoral supervisor, President of the Gansu Zoological Society, Council Member of the China Zoological Society, and Director of the Gansu Key Laboratory of Environmental Bio-monitoring and Remediation.

Dr. Huang presented a report titled "Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Chlorophenols on Sex Differentiation and Reproduction in Zebrafish". His research leverages deep expertise in environmental toxicology to examine how pollutants like 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) disrupt fish development. The report detailed the multi-level reproductive toxicity of chlorophenols, specifically focusing on three areas:

1. Germ Cell Proliferation: How 2, 4-DCP induces primordial germ cell proliferation through the Esr2a signaling pathway.

2. Feminization: The role of aberrant DNA methylation in causing feminization during the sex differentiation stage.

3. Adult Impairment: The disruption of sex hormone signaling and impairment of gametogenesis in adult fish.

Dr. Huang explained how his team used zebrafish models to construct gene mutants and conduct reporter gene assays. These methods validated the Esr2a/ERE-dependent pathway's role in developmental abnormalities and mapped the regulatory network of dnmt3 family members during gametogenesis. The presentation bridged the gap between molecular toxicology and ecological risk assessment, addressing real-world challenges in the ecological governance of the Yellow River basin.

The session concluded with an energetic Q&A. Faculty and students engaged in a deep technical dialogue with Dr. Huang, specifically focusing on the mechanisms of DNA methylation and its impact on dysregulated sex differentiation.