Denis Duboule Group
Department of Genetics and Evolution - Faculty of Science, University of Geneva
Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research - Swiss Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
Project at a glance
The major aim of our laboratories is to study the regulatory mechanisms underlying vertebrate pattern formation, in both developmental and evolutionary contexts, by using the recent tools of functional genomics.
A special focus is given to the similarities and differences that exist between the embryological development of vertebrates and those of other animals (invertebrates), from whom vertebrates derive.
Currently, a major effort is concentrated on the regulation of a critical family of transcription factors during the construction of the animal body plan, referred to as architect genes: the Hox gene family.
These genes have a special interest in the study of both our ontogenesis and our phylogeny, and the detailed understanding of their regulations and functions will be an important step in the understanding of our own histories.
The past years of work have allowed us to produce the tools necessary to finally evaluate the function of these genes in a variety of developmental contexts.
