Left-Right Development Genetics
in Xenopus, zebrafish and mice

What makes the left and right sides of the brain, heart and gut distinct? Our project on the genes and mechanisms that initiate left-right axis formation are focused on gene discovery (with high throughput technology) and on signal transduction pathways. Recent work has discovered novel components of the TGFbeta and Wnt signaling pathways. Our research in zebrafish focus on mutants already in hand; using genetic screens to discover new mutants, and using transgenics and classical embryology in zebrafish. Our work in mice uses microarray technology to discover novel asymmetrically expressed genes. There is also a project on neural crest as a novel source of cardiac cells in development, and a potential source of cardiac cells for transplantation.