Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
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
Richard Harland
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
Judy Chandler Webb Endowed Chair in the Biological Sciences and 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 (Affiliated) 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
Emeriti and Professors of the Graduate School
Georjana Barnes
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
Gian Garriga
Professor Emeritus of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Developmental neurobiology; molecular genetics
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 Emeritus of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
Processing gustatory information in the Drosophila brain
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
Professor Emeritus 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