Developmental Biology
My research focuses on the genetic and molecular factors that regulate skeletal and cardiac muscle development. My lab utilizes embryonic zebrafish, which are small vertebrates that develop completely externally and are clear during their early stages of development, making them ideal model organisms for the study of developmental biology. Students in my lab have previously identified several new genes that we predict play critical roles in skeletal and cardiac muscle development. This summer, we will be working to assess the expression and function of these genes in embryonic zebrafish using a variety of genetic and molecular biology techniques including in situ hybridization, RT-qPCR, CRISPR/Cas9, and immunostaining. Training will be provided in both zebrafish husbandry as well as cell culture.