More information about David Ornitz and his laboratory: bio sketch,
research interests, selected publications and laboratory resources.
Selected laboratory protocols, such as: alkaline
plasmid prep, BrdU immunohistochemistry, LacZ embryo staining, RNase
protection assay and many others.
Information and graphics concerncing fibroblast growth factor research,
such as: FGF family tree, FGFR mutations, FGF specificity data and
more.
Information
on vestibular system projects; QuickTime movie of a mouse swim test
in the Ornitz lab. The goal of this work is to identify the genes
required for otoconia biosynthesis and the function of the gravity
receptor.
Four types of projects are ongoing in the laboratory.
The first focuses on the role of FGFs in brain development. We are
examining the developmental function of FGFs in cerebellar development.
We have shown that FGF8 and FGF17 cooperate to regulate growth of
midline cerebellar tissues. We are now investigating whether FGF18,
a closely related FGF, is also involved in cerebellar development.
The second project involves the conditional inactivation of FGF
receptor 2 in developing neuroblast and glial cells. Future studies
will target FGFR2 inactivation to more defined sets of cells.
The third project involves FGF14 knockout mice. These mice develop
neurological defects yet undergo normal development. These mice
have provided an extremely useful tool to understand mechanisms
of neuronal signaling in the basal ganglia and cerebellum.
The
fourth project involves the axon guidance molecule slt3 and
its role in mouse development.
Mice lacking FGF9 have defects in lung branching and lung mesoderm
proliferation. These mice also have a male to female sex reversal
secondary to decreased growth of testicular mesenchyme and failure
of normal Sertoli and Lydig cell development.
Apert Syndrome manifests itself in premature ossification and fusion
of the sutures between the developing flat bones of the skull; osseous
fusion of digits and phalangeal joints; soft-tissue syndactyly in
hands and feet; and in central nervous system malformations and
mental retardation.
Links to other programs within the School of Medicine, and to other
areas of interest.
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