Development & Differentiation

Multicellular organisms undergo developmental programs to form the adult organism or to adapt to their environment. Key research opportunities in this area include elucidating the genetic programs and circuitry that occur during development and differentiation. Topics include investigating the temporal and molecular genetic events underlying bacterial sporulation, muscle development, T and B cell differentiation, germ cell specification and renewal, stem cell differentiation, development of the nervous system and the eye, sex determination, and plant root development. A state-of-the-art transgenic and knockout facility supports the work of many of the laboratories. Model organisms including bacteria, C. elegans, zebrafish, Drosophila, Arabidopsis, and the mouse are used to explore this exciting field.