Epigenetic cell memory is a process which ensures that different cell types in our body remember their identity which was established early during development while we were just a clump of cells in our mother’s womb. Cell fates established early during development by setting up differential gene expression patterns require maintenance of cell type specific gene expression which is governed by two groups of genes namely Polycomb group and Trithorax group genes. Tariq lab at LUMS utilizes fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) to understand role of Polycomb and Trithorax group proteins which are key players in the process of epigenetic cell memory. Polycomb group proteins maintain genes in silent (inactive) state while Trithorax group proteins act as anti-silencers and thus contribute to maintenance of identity of different cell types throughout our life. Different research projects in the group aim to understand how cell fates are established and how PcG/TrxG functions can be modulated to switch one cell type to another.