LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Takemura Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that explores the origin of the cell nucleus through giant viruses and also works on virus-based education.
AboutAbout the lab
Approaching the origin of the cell nucleus through giant viruses.
Through research on giant viruses, the Takemura Lab aims to demonstrate the hypothesis that the cell nucleus was brought about by viral infection.
The lab combines experiments using actual cells and viruses with computer-based bioinformatics and data science.
The lab also conducts research on biology education that uses viruses as its subject matter.
Recruitment of undergraduate research students from the Faculty of Science Division I, Department of Science Communication will begin in fiscal 2029.
Key terms
- Viral origin hypothesis of the cell nucleus
- The hypothesis that the nucleus of eukaryotic cells was brought about by viral infection.
- Giant viruses
- Viruses much larger than any that had been reported before, such as Mimivirus, which was discovered in 2003.
- Bioinformatics
- An approach that analyzes genetic information on computers to explore the functions of viruses and their evolutionary relationships.
ResearchResearch themes
The Takemura Lab studies giant viruses with the aim of demonstrating the viral origin hypothesis of the cell nucleus, which holds that the nucleus of eukaryotic cells was brought about by viral infection. The lab also conducts research on biology education that uses viruses as its subject matter.
*Illustrative imageIsolation, observation, and functional analysis of giant viruses
The lab isolates giant viruses from samples collected in Japan and observes them with various types of microscopes. It also studies the functions of viruses using genetic recombination.
*Illustrative imageExploring viral evolution from genetic information
The lab analyzes the genetic information of viruses and their hosts by computer. This research explores the functions of viruses and their evolutionary relationships.
*Illustrative imageImage analysis of infected amoebae
Using a phase-contrast microscope, the lab films amoebae, which serve as hosts of giant viruses, as time-lapse videos. Through image analysis, it quantitatively compares the changes in infected amoebae.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Takemura Lab consist of faculty, doctoral and master's students, and undergraduate students doing graduation research.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasaharu Takemura
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Takemura Lab
Unregistered LabFaculty of Science Division I, Department of Science CommunicationScience education
Suzuki LabFaculty of Science Division I, Department of Science CommunicationScience education
Watanabe LabFaculty of Science Division I, Department of Science CommunicationScience education; educational technology
Oura LabFaculty of Science Division I, Department of Science CommunicationEducational technologyThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Myxoma virus (transmission electron microscope)” David Gregory & Debbie Marshall / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Isolation, observation, and functional analysis of giant viruses: “Mollivirus sibericum@commondreams” Deirdre Fulton, staff writer. Original source: Enhanced/AFP / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Exploring viral evolution from genetic information: “GelDoc DNA gel electrophoresis photograph stained with ethidium bromide 04” Sgroey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Image analysis of infected amoebae: “Filamentous amoeba digesting two unsuspecting diatoms” Emily Aguirre / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (興治研究室): “Physics demonstration at Summit High School” Tomwsulcer / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (鈴木研究室): “Chemistry students performing a class demonstration 8d41258v” Esther Bubley / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (渡辺研究室): “Goat cheese class layout ( )” Leslie Seaton from Seattle, WA, USA / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (大浦研究室): “Flipped-up Classroom” GamerEDUCATOR / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.