GRK 242:  Molecular Genetics of Development

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1996 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271141

Modern molecular genetics have confirmed the two classical principles in respect to the generation of a differentiated, multicellular organism: a) the asymmetric distribution of maternal information and b) cell-cell communication via extracellular signaling molecules. Both mechanisms result in differential regulation of gene expression, mostly on the level of transcription. Current research, as reflected in the projects of this postgraduate program, aim at the identification of such signals, their receptors, elements of intracellular signal transduction and their target transcription factors. Groups participating in this program represent the major model systems used for experimental embryology: fly, mouse, frog, fish, chicken, worm and plant. This allows for comparative studies making use of the specific advantages that each of these systems has to offer. Students of this graduate program are offered lectures, seminars and practical courses which should provide detailed insight into theoretical and experimental aspects of these different systems.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Participating Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie; (Karl-Friedrich-Bonhoeffer-Institut) (aufgelöst)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Tomas Pieler
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Dröge-Laser; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Engel (†); Professorin Dr. Christiane Gatz; Professor Dr. Ulrich Grossbach (†); Professor Dr. Peter Gruss; Professor Dr. Thomas Hollemann; Professorin Dr. Sigrid Hoyer-Fender; Professor Dr. Herbert Jäckle; Professor Dr. Michael Kessel; Professor Dr. Jürgen Kohlhase; Professor Dr. Michael Kühl; Privatdozent Dr. Reinhard Schuh; Dr. Eckehard Schulze; Dr. Gerd Vorbrüggen; Privatdozentin Dr. Barbara Zoll