Developmental Biology / Signal Transduction
We are using mice as model organisms for the functional analysis of genes important in embryonic development and adult tissue maintenance. The tools for molecular genetics are well established in mice. Homologous recombination and embryonic stem cell technology make it possible to introduce targeted deletions or insertions into the mouse genome. A further development of the technique, the Cre-LoxP technology, allows for the introduction of alterations that are restricted to a particular cell lineage or developmental time point. Conditional mutagenesis thus renders possible a more fine-grained and described analysis of gene function than classical gene knock-out techniques could.
In the past, we were able to uncover important regulatory mechanisms in heart and muscle development. Currently, we also focus on the development of the mammalian nervous system.