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Florida State University
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University Department of Biological Science
 
FSU Biology - Faculty Research Interests - Cellular and Organismal Physiology
Westcott Building
Cellular and
Organismal
Physiology
     

Students may choose to work with any Department of Biological Science faculty.  With permission from the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, students may also work with Affiliated Faculty from other departments.

FACULTY
  • P. Bryant Chase  
    Biomechanics of cardiac and skeletal muscle.
  • Wu-Min Deng  
    Cell-cell communication, cell-extracellular martix interaction, Cell Polarity, Drosophila genetics and development, Drosophila model for muscular dystrophy.
  • W. Ross Ellington
    Cellular energy metabolism.
  • Debra Fadool
    Olfactory signal transduction; ion channel structure-function; neuromodulation. 
  • Peter Fajer
    Muscle contraction; structure-function of proteins; cellular physiology.
  • Marc E. Freeman
    Reproductive neuroendocrinology; hypothalmic control of pituitary function.
  • Betty Jean Gaffney
    Magnetic resonance of proteins, lipid mediator mechanisms, metal ion regulation.

AFFILIATED FACULTY
  • Wei Chu Chin (Affiliated Faculty - College of Engineering)
    Cellular signalling, cellular engineering, calcium transport in pancreatitis.
  • Trent Clarke  (Affiliated Faculty - College of Medicine)
    Hormone signaling and homeostasis in gonadal development.
  • Branco Stefanovic (Affiliated Faculty - College of Medicine)
    Regulation of gene expression, cell signalling, collagen, liver disease.

Cellular and organismal physiology focuses on the normal vital processes of organisms. Research is directed at identifying biochemical, biophysical, molecular, genetic, and behavioral correlates of normal functioning at the subcellular, cellular, or whole-organism level. Examples of research by this group include the study of muscle and nonmuscle motility systems (e.g. muscle energetics, structure/function of cytoskeletal proteins), cellular enzymatic processes (e.g. cellular energy metabolism, selective enzymatic oxidation of fatty acids), membrane protein trafficking, and stomatal-aperture regulation. Clarification of such processes provides insight into both normal physiology and host mechanisms that protect against pathologic states. For example, cell motility plays an important role in the defense against tumor metastasis, and cellular enzymatic processes include compensatory mechanisms for responding to oxygen deprivation. Other research is directed at clarifying means by which cells communicate. Examples include research on ion channels, signal transduction, synaptic transmission, and the regulation of hormone secretion. Several investigators are investigating aspects of sensory systems, including neural encoding and integration of chemoreception, synaptic transmission in the olfactory bulb, and molecular, genetic, and behavioral correlates of taste aversion.

 




What's News
Dr. Debra Fadool has received Albion College's Distinguished Alumni Award for 2007. Debi received this award at Albion College's Awards Ceremony during their Homecoming Weekend.
Dr. Walter R. Tschinkel, Professor in the Department of Biological Science, has been awarded the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Award for 2007/2008.