My primary role at Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology is to direct Transgenic Mouse Core
Facility. The mission of the Transgenic
Mouse Core Facility is to facilitate the advancement of animal model studies in UTMB.
Our primary functions are 1) to generate transgenic and knockout mice that can serve as in
vivo models for addressing a wide variety of biological questions, and 2) to preserve
valuable mouse strains as safeguards to prevent the accidental loss due to natural disaster,
human error, or infection; and to discontinue maintenance of a stock.
Transgenic Mouse Core Facility is supported
by the
Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology and available for use by all scientists. The facility
is located inside the ARC within Medical Research Building, and currently staffed by Research
Associate San F. Yang and myself.
My own research focuses on early
embryonic development in vertebrates, particularly of the mouse. We genetically engineer
mice, and use them to elucidate fundamental processes in embryogenesis, such as early
cell-lineage specification, and gastrulation. At present, we study the function of
Sca10 gene in embryonic stem cell differentiation. Understanding how the specific
cell types are established and maintained during embryogenesis also contributes to
understanding the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis. |
