Development

We take advantage of several model systems to examine problems in developmental biology. These systems are powerful because they combine genetics with molecular and genomic approaches. The control of gene expression between different genders is being studied in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The mustard weed Arabidopsis thaliana is used to examine cell fate specification in the root and apical meristems as well as hormonal signaling.

Signal transduction and transcriptional regulation in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is another area of interest, and Zebrafish (Danio reno) are used to study eye and heart development, as well as wiring of the central nervous system. Development of the neuromuscular junction is being looked at using mice as a model.

Faculty

Mohammed Akaaboune, Kenneth Cadigan, Steven Clark, Catherine Collins, Gyorgyi Csankovszki, Cunming Duan, John Kuwada, Jianming Li, Janine Maddock, Erik Nielsen, Pamela Raymond, John Schiefelbein, Lyle Simmons, Patricia Wittkopp, Haoxing Xu.