GGD_research_mitochondriaGametes_Unal Faculty of the Division of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development (GGED) investigate fundamental mechanisms of inheritance and development by using genetic, genomic, molecular, biochemical, and computational approaches. Our broad interests include basic mechanisms of transcription, RNA processing, and translation; function and evolution of gene regulatory networks; origin and evolution of animal signaling and patterning mechanisms in development; structure and evolution of genomes; embryonic pattern formation and morphogenesis; evolution of regulatory mechanisms at the genomic level, including sex determination and dosage compensation; generation and maintenance of variation within populations; the genetic basis and genomic architecture of adaptation; and development of computational methods for interpreting biological data. We use established model organisms and genome-enabled species from many branches of the tree of life. We synergize with the Innovative Genomics Institute; the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society; and the Center for Computational Biology. Our mission is to provide world-class training in GGED to diverse junior scientists to seek new discoveries that will enhance understanding of the most fundamental biological principles. At our yearly retreat, the GGED community comes together to share our research accomplishments and foster connections between research groups.

Faculty

The following is an alphabetical list of active MCB faculty members in the division and brief descriptions of their research. Additional faculty lists are available using the following links:

Emeriti and Professors of the Graduate School | Secondary Divisional Affiliates

 

Steven E. Brenner
Professor (Affiliated) of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Computational Genomics

Michael B. Eisen
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Chair in Computational Biology, and Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Genomics/Bioinformatics

Hernan G. Garcia
Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Physical biology. Transcriptional regulation. Development of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

Gian Garriga
Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Developmental neurobiology; molecular genetics

Richard Harland
Senior Associate Dean of Biological Sciences, C.H. Li Distinguished Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Molecular biology of development

Nicole King
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Choanoflagellates, animal origins, and the evolution of host-microbe interactions

Doug Koshland
Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Chair in the Biological Sciences & Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Mechanisms and principles that mediate desiccation tolerance and the structure, integrity, and evolution of chromosomes

Liana Lareau
Assistant Professor (Affiliated) of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development

Megan Martik
Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Neural crest in development, disease, evolution, and tissue regeneration

Barbara Meyer
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Sex determination in C. elegans

Craig T. Miller
Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Developmental and evolutionary genetics

Priya Moorjani
Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Human Population Genetics and Evolutionary Biology

Dipti Nayak
Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Physiology and evolution of archaea; biochemistry of methanogenesis; genome editing tools for archaeal genetics

Daniel S. Rokhsar
Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Collective phenomena and ordering in condensed matter and biological systems

Max Staller
Assistant Professor in Residence of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Computational and experimental studies of intrinsically disordered proteins and transcription factors.

Peter Sudmant
Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Evolutionary and Functional Genomics

Elçin Ünal
Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Molecular basis of cellular rejuvenation, gene regulation during cellular differentiation

Noah Whiteman
Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
We study the genetic basis of biotic interactions, the evolution of immune systems and toxin evolution-resistance mechanisms

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Emeriti and Professors of the Graduate School

Georjana Barnes
Judy Chandler Webb Endowed Chair and Professor Emerita of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Microtubule cytoskeleton and cell cycle controls

Steven Beckendorf
Professor Emeritus of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Molecular biology of development; Global warming: solutions and biological effects; Concentrating solar power.

Thomas Cline
Professor Emeritus of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Sex determination in Drosophila

Jasper Rine
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and Professor of the Graduate School Division of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Gene regulation; cell biology

Henk Roelink
Professor Emeritus of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Induction in vertebrate development and ES cell differentiation

Kristin Scott
Professor Emerita of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Processing gustatory information in the Drosophila brain

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Secondary Divisional Affiliates

The following faculty have a secondary affiliation with the Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development division.

David Bilder
Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Genetics of cell and tissue architecture

Michael Botchan
Dean of Biological Sciences Professor of Molecular Therapeutics
Eukaryote DNA replication and control of S phase

Gloria Brar
Associate Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Regulation of meiotic translation, the roles of pervasive short translation products, and the co-option of stress responses for cellular differentiation through meiosis

Abby Dernburg
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Chromosome organization and dynamics during meiosis

David G. Drubin
Ernette Comby Chair in Microbiology Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in yeast and mammalian cells

Iswar Hariharan
Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Mechanisms of control of growth and cell proliferation. Regulation of regenerative growth.

Rebecca Heald
Department Co-Chair and Flora Lamson Hewlett Chair and Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Mitotic spindle assembly and function in Xenopus laevis

Dirk Hockemeyer
Associate Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology
Telomere biology of human stem cells

Donald Rio
Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular genetics; transposable elements; RNA splicing

Robert Tjian
Howard Hughes Medical Institute President and Professor of Molecular Therapeutics
Eukaryotic molecular biology; biochemistry

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