Education

B.S. Geochemistry, Peking University, 2007
M.S. Palaeontology and Stratigraphy, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2010
Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Sweden, 2015

Professional Experience

Postdoc, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Sweden & Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Canada, 2015-2019
Professor, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 2019

Research Area
Our laboratory primarily focuses on comparative genomics and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), using zebrafish as an experimental animal model. We aim to address the following scientific questions:
1. To what extent is the parallel evolution or convergent evolution of morphological traits controlled by homologous genomic loci?
2. How does the correspondence between phenotype and genotype change during evolution?
3. To what degree do developmental constraints influence the evolutionary direction of phenotypes and genotypes?
4. What are the genetic mechanisms underlying the origin of appendages in vertebrates?

Selected Publications(* Corresponding author)

1. Xu, Z., X. Zeng, C. Zhang, B. Tong, Z. Dong, C. Wang, S. Liu, L. He, G. Li and Q. Qu* (2026). 5α-Reductase underscores the development of pectoral fin breeding tubercles in zebrafish. Communications Biology https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10140-z
2. Pan, R., J. Zou, Y. Chen, Q. Yan, Y. Zhong, Q. Qu* and G. Li* (2026). Regulatory rewiring of Dand5 drove left-right organizer heterotopy and organ asymmetry evolution in chordates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 123 (21): e2531024123. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2531024123
3. Li, H., F. Liu, J. Li, C. Shi, Z. Lin, Y. Qin, R. Pan, X. Wu, Y. Peng, C. Xing, Y. Wang, Q. Qu* and G. Li* (2026). Evolutionary dynamics of sex determination in Branchiostoma belcheri driven by repeated transposition of a single novel gene. Nature Communications 17(1): 1616. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68322-6
4. Liu, F., J. Wu, Y. Dong, Y. Song, B. Tong, Y. Peng, L. He, L. Xu, G. Fan*, F. Wu*, B. Wang* and Q. Qu* (2025). Convergent functional evolution of mRNA-binding proteins fuels allotetraploid adaptation in cyprinids. Cell Reports. 44(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116635
5. Dong, Z., C. Wang, S. Dong, Y. Peng, J. Guo, C. Zhang, Z. Xu, Z. Wu, B. Wang and Q. Qu* (2025). Comparative genomic screening identifies developmental constraint loci underscoring the phenotypic evolution of syngnathids. Integrative Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.13018
6. Shi, C. et al. Q. Qu* and G. Li* (2024) Evolution of the gene regulatory network of body axis by enhancer hijacking in amphioxus. eLife 13, e89615. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89615
7. Dong, Z., Wang, C. and Q. Qu*. (2024) WGCCRR: a web-based tool for genome-wide screening of convergent indels and substitutions of amino-acids. Bioinformatics Advances. https://doi.org:10.1093/bioadv/vbae070
8. Bremer, O., Q. Qu et al. (2022) Exploring the three-dimensional vasculature of dermal hard tissues in thyestiid osteostracans using synchrotron radiation microtomography. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 42, e2196318.
9. Bremer, O., Q. Qu et al. (2021) The emergence of a complex pore-canal system in the dermal skeleton of Tremataspis (Osteostraci). Journal of Morphology 282, 1141-1157. https://doi.org:https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21359
10. Cui, X., Q. Qu et al. (2021) Modeling scale morphogenesis in a Devonian chondrichthyan and scale growth patterns in crown gnathostomes. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology , e1930018 (2021). https://doi.org:10.1080/02724634.2021.1930018
11. Qu, Q.*, S. Sanchez, M. Zhu, H. Blom and P. E. Ahlberg (2017). The origin of novel features by changes in developmental mechanisms: ontogeny and three‐dimensional microanatomy of polyodontode scales of two early osteichthyans. Biological Reviews. 92: 1189–1212
12. Choo, C., M. Zhu, Q. Qu, X Yu, L. Jia and W. Zhao (2017). A new osteichthyan from the late Silurian of Yunnan, China. PloS one. 12: e0170929
13. Jerve, A., Q. Qu, S. Sanchez, H. Blom, P. E. Ahlberg and T. Haitina (2017). Vascularization and odontode structure of a dorsal ridge spine of Romundina stellina Ørvig 1975. PloS one 12: e0189833
14. Jerve, A., Q. Qu, S. Sanchez, H. Blom and P. E. Ahlberg. (2016) Three-dimensional paleohistology of the scale and median fin spine of Lophosteus superbus (Pander 1856) PeerJ 4:e2521 (Co-first author)
15. Qu, Q.*, H. Blom, S. Sanchez and P. Ahlberg (2015). Three‐dimensional virtual histology of Silurian osteostracan scales revealed by synchrotron radiation. Journal of Morphology , 276: 873-888.
16. Qu, Q. ,T. Haitina, M. Zhu and P. E. Ahlberg* (2015). New genomic and fossil data illuminate the origin of enamel. Nature 526, 108–111.
17. Qu, Q.*, S. Sanchez, H. Blom, P. Tafforeau and P. E. Ahlberg (2013). Scales and tooth whorls of ancient fishes challenge distinction between external and oral ‘teeth’. PloS one 8: e71890.
18. Qu, Q.*, M. Zhu and W. Wang (2013). Scales and dermal skeletal histology of an early bony fish Psarolepis romeri and their bearing on the evolution of rhombic scales and hard tissues. PloS one 8: e61485.
19. Qu, Q. *, M. Zhu and W.-J. Zhao (2010). Silurian atmospheric O2 changes and the early radiation of gnathostomes. Palaeoworld 19: 146-159.
20. Wang, W., Q. Qu and M. Zhu* (2010). A brief review of the Middle Palaeozoic vertebrates from Southeast Asia. Palaeoworld 19: 27-36.
21. Zhu, M.*, X. Yu, P. E. Ahlberg, B. Choo, J. Lu, T. Qiao, Q. Qu, W. Zhao, L. Jia and H. Blom (2013). A Silurian placoderm with osteichthyan-like marginal jaw bones. Nature 502: 188-193.
22. Zhu, M.*, X. Yu, B. Choo, Q. Qu, L. Jia, W. Zhao, T. Qiao and J. Lu (2012). Fossil fishes from China provide first evidence of dermal pelvic girdles in osteichthyans. PloS one 7: e35103.
23. Zhu, M.*, W. Zhao, L. Jia, J. Lu, T. Qiao and Q. Qu (2009). The oldest articulated osteichthyan reveals mosaic gnathostome characters. Nature 458: 469-474.