Identify and better understand the genes involved in the development of the vertebrate heart and vasculature; study transcriptional pathways involved in cardiovascular development.
Although the cardiovascular system is the first functional system to form during embryonic development, very little is currently known about the molecular processes required for this formation. The aim of my research is to identify and better understand the genes involved in the development of the vertebrate heart and vasculature. My lab will conduct experiments primarily on the embryos of the South African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis), but will also exploit the genetic potential of zebrafish (Danio rerio), and Xenopus tropicalis. In addition to constructing and utilizing microarrays to study transcriptional pathways involved in cardiovascular development, this lab will continue to explore and, when possible, apply the latest advances in genomics to our ongoing research.
Developmental Biology, Gene Expression, Molecular Biology
