Robert
H Waterston, M.D.,Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
Professor and William Gates III Chair, Department of Genome Sciences
Box 357730
University of Washington
1705 NE Pacific Street, HSB-K357
Seattle, WA 98195-7730
ph: 206 685-7347
fx: 206-616-5197
waterston@gs.washington.edu
The major focus of the Waterston lab is the exploration of ways to contribute to the understanding of the genomes of the human and the nematode worm, C. elegans.
C. elegans offers unique advantages in understanding the regulatory circuitry that underpins development. The ability to follow the invariant pattern of cell divisions in real time offers an opportunity to describe gene expression patterns at an exceptional level of detail in time and space. To exploit this property, the lab is seeking to automate the determination of the lineage, and in turn overlay any pattern of gene expression on the lineage pattern. As a first step, the lab created GFP-histone fusion genes to label the nuclei and have used 4-d microscopy to record the full development of the animal. They are now developing computer programs to detect cell divisions and thereby reconstruct the cell lineage. Aided by comparative genome analysis they have also begun to create promoter-GFP fusions for a series of test genes to be introduced into the GFP-histone background to document patterns of gene expression. Initial efforts will be directed toward known transcription factors and in turn building up a likely network of interactions.
For the human genome, the lab is using comparative sequence analysis, first with mouse and currently with chimpanzee, to explore the ways comparative analysis can illuminate the function of the human genome. Longer term, they hope to be able use human polymorphism to aid in the assignment of likely gene function.
There currently is one postdoc in the lab. Other personnel are being recruited.
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of Medical Genetics, University of Washington.
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Last updated: May 19, 2003
