Event Detail (Archived)

On Peculiarities of Being a Human: Gene Regulatory Mechanisms in Human Development and Evolution

  • This event already took place in November 2015
  • Caspary Auditorium

Event Details

Type
Friday Lecture Series
Speaker(s)
Joanna Wysocka, Ph.D., professor, department of chemical and systems biology, department of developmental biology, Stanford University
Speaker bio(s)

While studies in model organisms have led to great progress in unveiling the conserved mechanisms of gene regulation, many aspects of development that are unique to humans and other primates remain unexplored, as are regulatory principles underlying emergence of human-specific traits. Dr. Wysocka will discuss some of her laboratory's recent progress in understanding transcriptional mechanisms governing human development and evolution, such as those involving the activity of transposable elements in early embryogenesis or their recent quantitative analyses of cis-regulatory divergence in the human and chimpanzee neural crest, an embryonic cell population that is most relevant for evolution of human craniofacial form.
 
Research in Dr. Wysocka’s laboratory is focused on understanding how the genetic instructions encoded by cis-regulatory elements are interpreted in the context of a cellular state and signaling milieu to establish chromatin states either permissive or restrictive for gene expression during embryogenesis. She has a particular interest in the molecular basis underlying cellular plasticity, commitment and differentiation, as well as human development and evolution. 
 
Dr. Wysocka did her graduate work at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with Winship Herr and, after graduating in 2003, postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University with David Allis. Dr. Wysocka is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Searle Scholar Award, W.M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholar Award, 2010 International Society for Stem Cell Research Outstanding Young Investigator Award, and 2013 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise.

Open to
Public
Host
Leslie Vosshall, Ph.D.
Reception
Refreshments, 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Abby Lounge
Contact
Linda Hanssler
Phone
(212) 327-7714
Sponsor
Linda Hanssler
(212) 327-7714
lhanssler@rockefeller.edu
Readings
http://librarynews.rockefeller.edu/?p=3932

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