MOUSE GENETICS - Non-Mendelian Genetics and Epigenetics

Differences between individuals are not simply the result of fortuitous genetic combinations. Diversity is also the consequence of how the genetic information is transmitted and how it is manifested in the cells. In this regard, I am interested in understanding how basic processes (meiotic recombination and segregation, and gene expression) are regulated, because variability in these processes results in changes in the inheritance of genes and their phenotypic effects.

My laboratory approaches these questions by studying particular phenomena that occur during gametogenesis and early embryogenesis in mouse. By classical genetic, epigenetic and genomic analyses, we aim to get a better knowledge of the genes, the chromatin modifications and the mechanisms involved in the control of recombination, segregation and gene expression, as well as their implications in evolution and disease.

Support

Subcontract from a grant of the National Institute of Mental Health (1P50MH090338-01) at National Institutes of Health. The project "An interdiscipilinary program for systems genomics of complex behaviors", submitted in response to a solicitation for Centers of Excellence in Genomics Science (P50). This project is supported with ARRA funds for the first two years ($5,800,000 total costs, $164,450 total costs for Dr. de la Casa Esperon's subcontract) beginning on September 1st 2009.