From their birth till their destruction, RNAs are always associated with proteins. Deciphering the language of how RNAs interact with specific RNA-binding proteins is a fundamentally important concept in modern molecular cell biology. Our laboratory has two main focuses. First, we are working on understanding how specific mRNAs are selected for post-transcriptional gene regulation during germ cell development. Second, we are investigating the biogenesis and function of a new family of small RNAs (22G endo-siRNAs) and how they help to maintain the genome integrity by modulation the transcriptional program of germ cells. We use a diverse set of experimental approaches, including cell biology, genetics, biochemistry and genomics to study the RNA pathways of the multicellular eukaryotic model organism C. elegans.