FACULTY

Hank W. Bass   Meiosis in higher plants; telomere dynamics; molecular cytology; maize genomics. George W. Bates   Plant cell and molecular biology; cell fusion, transformation, recombinant DNA, and plant cell culture. Brian P. Chadwick   X chromosome inactivation; chromatin organization; epigenetic gene regulation. Hongchang Cui   Cell fate specification and reprogramming in plants; evolutionary and developmental biology; plant-environment interaction; genomics and epigenomics; proteomics; molecular genetics. Wu-Min Deng   Cell-cell communication, cell-extracellular martix interaction, Cell Polarity, Drosophila genetics and development, Drosophila model for muscular dystrophy. Jonathan H. Dennis   The biology of chromatin involved in the innate immune response. Lloyd M. Epstein   Eukaryotic molecular genetics; autocatalytic processing of RNA; genome organization and evolution.

James M. Fadool   Developmental biology; cellular and genetic analysis of visual system development. David Gilbert   Eukaryotic Chromosome Replication and Genome Plasticity. Kathryn M. Jones Rhizobial/plant symbiotic interactions. Laura R. Keller   Molecular genetics; signal transduction and regulation of gene expression. Thomas C. S. Keller   Cell and molecular biology of the cytoskeleton; cytoskeleton regulation and energetics. Karen M. McGinnis   Molecular genetics; genomics; epigenetic regulation of gene expression in plants. William H. Outlaw   Plant physiology. M. Elizabeth Stroupe   3-D electron microscopy and x-ray crystallography of protein complexes involved in mRNA and sulfur metabolism. Hengli Tang   Virus-host cell interactions; Cell biology of HCV replication; Cellular co-factors for HIV and HCV infection.

Our research focuses on the molecular bases of gene function and processes that control development. We use classical, modern, and unique model systems to analyze the mechanistic bases of gene expression and regulation, establish relationships between the structure and function of gene products, and investigate how organisms integrate multiple signals during development. Well-staffed core facilities in the Department of Biological Science, close work with associated departments/programs (e.g. Chemistry Department, the Institute of Molecular Biophysics, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory), and new initiatives in computational biology and medical sciences afford access to state-of-the-art research technologies. In addition to emphasizing day-to-day interactions between students and faculty advisors, joint lab meetings and topical seminar series allow faculty and students to present and critique the latest research. Our small but highly productive laboratories provide excellent breadth and balance in graduate and postgraduate training while emphasizing high-quality, nationally competitive research.