One of Biology's most exciting challenges is to understand how a single cell, the fertilized zygote, can give rise to an entire new organism. This process involves the differentiation of a large array of cell types which must be organized with an intricate architecture to create a functioning adult. The same mechanisms that control development are also critical in human disease, and our understanding of many disease processes, and disease genes, stems from first understanding their role in development. Research in the Developmental Biology section of our Graduate Program encompasses many of the essential questions currently being addressed in this field. A wide range of genetic, molecular and cell biological approaches are being used to study these questions. These include the sophisticated imaging, large scale genomics and cross-species comparisons that are possible with today's advanced technology and bioinformatics resources.

Faculty

Alex Bortvin Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Staff Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington Genetic and epigenetic controls of germ cell development and function in vertebrates. Xin Chen Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Epigenetic regulation of Drosophila germ cell differentiation from a stem cell lineage. Chen-Ming Fan Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology Staff Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington Molecular patterning and embryonic induction during mouse early development. Steven A. Farber Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology Staff Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington Real-time imaging of lipid metabolism in live zebrafish; identification of genes which regulate cholesterol absorption using biochemical and genetic strategies. Marnie Halpern Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology Staff Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington Zebra fish neural development. Samer Hattar Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Light reception for non-image detection: role of rods, cones and the new photoreceptors (melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells). Edward Hedgecock Professor, Department of Biology Developmental genetics of the nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Rejji Kuruvilla Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Control of neuronal development by target-derived neurotrophins. Allan Spradling Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology Staff Member and Director, Carnegie Institution of Washington Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Oogenesis; Drosophila genomics. Mark Van Doren Associate Professor, Department of Biology Primordial germ cell development and migration. Haiqing Zhao Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Function and development of olfactory sensory neurons.

Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218

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