GRK 484:  Signalling Systems and Gene Expression in Developmental Model Systems

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1998 to 2004
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 272617

Developmental biology is one of the most flourishing disciplines of Life Sciences thanks to the flood of new methods and insights from molecular biology and genetics. It deals with fascinating problems, is related to medicine (e.g. cancer research) and applied biology (e.g. generation of transgenic organisms). The PhD students do research in one of the following fields: (1) Role of chromosomal proteins in the programming and permanent fixation of cell-type and organ-specific gene expression. (2) Control of gene expression by signal molecules such as morphogens, inducers, growth factors and hormones. (3) Position-dependent gene expression and biological pattern formation. (4) Identification of recognition molecules involved in the guidance of nerve fibres to their targets, or in the discrimination between self and non-self in transplants. In addition, the students have the opportunity to become acquainted with organisms that have become model systems in modern biology such as the mouse, chicken, fish (Danio or Medaka), Xenopus, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, Hydra and Hydractinia. The students see how transgenic mice are generated and become familiar with many methods of molecular biology. In the training program priority is given to practical courses. The interdisciplinary character of the training program is warranted by the participation of scientists appointed to institutions such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, the German Cancer Research Centre, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and the Interdisciplinary Centres of the university for Molecular Biology, Neurobiology or Scientific Computing.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Participating Institution: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ); European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Gabriele Elisabeth Pollerberg
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Monika Hassel; Professor Dr. Bernard Mechler; Professor Dr. Werner A. Müller; Professor Dr. Christof Niehrs, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Renato Paro; Professor Dr. Günther Schütz (†); Professor Dr. Joachim Wittbrodt