Prof. Terry Orr-Weaver

The research goal is to determine how an organism develops from a single-cell fertilized embryo to a multi-cellular adult. We want to define how developmental cues interface with DNA replication and chromosome segregation to link cell division to development. Using Drosophila as a model, we are investigating several developmental periods and types of cell cycles: meiosis and the production of gametes, fertilization and rapid early embryonic divisions, the transition to zygotic control of cell divisions during embryogenesis, and changes in gene copy number accompanying differentiation. Drosophila permits an interdisciplinary approach using genomics, genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to discover new regulatory genes controlling DNA replication and chromosome segregation during development. Because these genes are conserved, Drosophila is an excellent model for identifying regulators that ensure proper human development and prevent cancer.