Genetics
Research in genetics in this department employs a variety of organisms, ranging in complexity from bacteriophage to humans. Several groups are studying the process of transmission of genes by analyzing DNA replication, DNA repair, chromosome segregation and cell division.
The use of genetics to identify regulatory genes and to define biological mechanisms is a crucial tool in unraveling a myriad of biological problems. Among the processes being investigated via genetics by members of this department are aging, human genetic diseases, human spermatogenesis, cell death, neurobiology, developmental biology, protein processing and secretion, the cytoskeleton and cell architecture, and plant-bacterial communication.