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Research in my group focuses on developmental genetics in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Our overall aim is to understand how gene networks encode developmental programmes, and in doing this we seek to integrate molecular mechanisms into a whole organism level of understanding. One major interest at present is the regulation of cell number during development. The transition from cell proliferation to differentiation is a key regulatory step in the development and subsequent maintenance of an organism's tissues and organs, and is at the heart of disease processes such as cancer. At present, the mechanisms controlling the balance between proliferation and differentiation of cells are poorly understood and we aim to use C. elegans as a powerful model organism in which to gain a molecular understanding of how this balance is achieved during normal development. Stem cells have the ability to both self-renew as well as give rise to differentiating daughters that can sometimes generate (or even re-generate) a particular tissue over the lifetime of an organism. Stem cells therefore need to constantly juggle the conflicting demands of proliferation and differentiation in order for a multicellular organism to develop and operate properly. The simple nematode worm C. elegans offers a simple and tractable system in which to study fundamental aspects of stem cell biology that are likely to be applicable to higher organisms.
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Department of Biochemistry, 01865 613263 (office) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
