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Research Summary

We apply the methods of Molecular Genetics to questions of Brain Development using the mouse as a model. The central questions in Genetics are: what is function of genes and how do they work. We focus on these questions as they apply to the embryonic brain: "How do genes regulate brain development?". Our approach involves generating and analyzing mouse mutant lines with brain phenotypes. Our methods include genetic fate mapping, expression analysis (in situ hybridization, microarrays), in utero electroporation, explant culture, etc.

Great advances in our understanding of the genetic regulation of brain development have been made by studying other animal models like the fruit fly Drosophila as well as the zebrafish, the chicken and the nematode C. elegans. For this reason we collaborate with other research groups focusing in these models. We learn from them, compare results across species, learn about evolution of developmental mechanisms and exchange materials, techniques and approaches.

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Former Members

Dr. Yuanfeng Zhang (Chongqing University Hospital, Chongqing, China)
Dr. Michael Heide (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany)
Dr. Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli (Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil)
Christoph Hofmann
Younian Xu
Honglan Mu