Our Research

Research in our laboratory focuses on the early development of primordial germ cells and the gonad. Germ cells are the only cells that contribute to the next generation of a species, and so an organism’s primary goal is to ensure that these cells develop successfully. The interactions that germ cells have with somatic cells within the gonad are critical for their proper development. Germ cells play an important role in human health, and improper germ cell development can lead to infertility or the formation of germ cell cancers. Despite the importance of germ cells, little is understood about the molecular mechanisms controlling their development.

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We have chosen to study germ cell development in Drosophila to take advantage of the many genetic, molecular, and cell biological tools available in this system. Many of the same developmental challenges are faced by germ cells across a wide variety of species, and different organisms are likely to solve these problems in similar ways. Once we gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling germ cell development in Drosophila, we can then apply this knowledge to germ cell development in other species.

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We are also studying gonad sexual dimorphism using Drosophila. We have found that the somatic cells of the gonad are already different in males and females at the time of gonad formation, and that these somatic cells directly regulate proper male or female development of the germ cells. Furthermore, genes required for proper sex determination in humans also appear to play similar roles in Drosophila. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms that control gonad sexual dimorphism and determining whether these mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved.