Genetics & Development

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Andy Wessels, Ph.D. - Division Director wesselsa@musc.edu, 843-792-8183 The Division of Genetics and Development offers training and research in the field of genetics and developmental biology, which utilizes a variety of animal models to assess the gene functions in embryonic development. Modern developmental genetics has become the central organizing field in all traditional disciplines in biology, such as cell biology, molecular biology, anatomy, evolution, and ecology. It has also contributed greatly to more practical fields such as medicine, environmental science and agriculture. The model systems studied by the faculty members include Drosophila (fruit fly) for oogenesis and vascular system development, zebrafish for environmental impact on embryogenesis, Xenopus (frog) for neurogenesis, chick for the formation of cardiovascular system, mice for a variety of organogenesis such as limb and follicle development, hematopoiesis, heart formation and mammary development, and human familial diseases for genetic linkage studies. In addition to transgenic and knockout technology, a variety of cell culture systems, including those for human stem cells, are utilized in the research. Time-lapse confocal laser scanning picture of changing gene expression in the developing heart tube.

Drosophila trachea marked by immunohistochemistry and observed by confocal laser microscopy. The wild-type embryo (upper pane) shows an intricate network of tubular structure. The network is disrupted in mutants of the Drosophila oncogene pnt (lower panel).

The picture shows a new-born mouse [top] defective in hair follicle development as compared to the normal animal [bottom]. The defect is induced by Hox gene over-expression.

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Genetics & Development Course Descriptions

Cellular signaling during Development MCBP-743

This course is designed to build on the Regulation of Gene Expression, Biomembranes, Receptors and Signaling and Systems Biology units of the first year curriculum for Ph.D., and complement ongoing department-specific seminars and journal clubs. Cellular Signaling during Development will provide the students with an in depth look at ongoing research in the field of developmental biology with a strong focus on the signaling networks that control the important developmental processes. Emphasis will also be placed on the pathology of dysregulated signaling mechanisms in diseases. It will allow for a broad scope of understanding of the techniques, theories and practices involved in the delineation of cellular signaling in complex systems. The course will begin, in the first 2 sessions, with an outline of and introduction to topics to be discussed. Review and discussion of papers by the students will follow. For each paper discussed the presenting student will first provide overviews that will serve as background material. Grades will be based on the quality of presentation and participation.
3 credit hours
Course Director: Robin Muise-Helmericks, Co-Director: Rick Visconti
The course is offered in the Spring Semester of alternate years (starting 2005).

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Genetics & Development Faculty

Alexander Awgulewitsch, Ph.D. Professor Rheumatology/Immunology Role of Hox genes in cartilage & muscle development and transgenic models for skin and hair defects John E. Baatz, Ph.D. Professor Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis Narayan R. Bhat, Ph.D. Professor Department of Neurology Glial cell lineages in nervous system development Maria G. Buse, M.D. Professor, Division of Endocrinology Hormonal and metabolic regulation, the action of insulin, diabetes, mechanisms of insulin resistance Lisa Cunningham , Ph.D. Assistant Professor Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Genes regulating cellular responses to stress in neurons and sensory receptor cells. Maurizio Del Poeta, Ph.D. Associate Professor Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Fungal pathogenesis Christopher J. Drake, Ph.D. Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology The developmental biology of de novo blood vessel formation mediated by vasculogenesis Gary Gilkeson, M.D. Professor Division of Rheumatology Genetics of autoimmunity and of racial disparity in autoimmunity Robert G. Gourdie, Ph.D. Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Cardiac cell fate, molecular induction and patterning of the heart Stanley R. Hoffman, Ph.D. Professor Rheumatology/Immunology Function of specific ECM proteins and MMP's in development Philip H. Howe, Ph.D. Professor Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Signaling pathways activated by TGFB1 and Wnt and their potential cross-talk in cellular models of differentiation and cancer Jenifer Isaacs, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dept of Pharmacology Role of cancer secreted chaperones as mediators of tumor promotion and metastasis Michael Kern, Ph.D. Associate Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Defining the molecular/genetic circuitry of patterning genes in bone, craniofacial, and cardiovascular development. Target genes of homeobox transcription factors: microarrays and beyond. Steven W. Kubalak, Ph.D. Associate Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Cardiac development in retinoid x receptor-alpha gene-targeted mice

Terrence O'Brien, M.D. Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Molecular biology and developmental regulation of conduction system of cardiomyocytes Janardan P. Pandey, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Professor Microbiology and Immunology Role of cytokine and immunoglobulin genes in infectious and autoimmune diseases. Swapan K. Ray, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Neurology involvement of calpain, a Ca2+-dependent cysteine protease, in the molecular mechanisms of cell death in disorders and diseases of the central nervous system Baerbel Rohrer, Ph.D. Associate Professor Opthalmology Retinal development and genetics of retinal degeneration Carlos Salinas, D.M.D. Professor Pediatric Dentistry Clinical aspects of birth defects affecting the craniofacial structures, and the oral & dental manifestations of genetic & systemic disorders Demetri D. Spyropoulos, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Medicine Mammary gland & male urogenital system development, and hematopoiesis Bryan Toole , Ph.D. Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Role of hyaluronan and emmprin in limb and cardiocascular development and in epithelial-mesechymal transitions Dennis K. Watson, Ph.D. Professor Laboratory of Cancer Genomics Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Effects of gene dosage on development: knockout and transgenic models Andy Wessels , Ph.D. Professor Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Cardiovascular Development Biology Center Cardiovascular Development

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