We are interested in mechanisms of tissue specification, morphogenesis and patterning of specific regional identity during vertebrate head development, particularly within the hearing apparatus. In order to understand developmental defects in newborns we use vertebrate animal models to understand normal and abnormal development. The ear has multiple components that need to develop and interact correctly for normal hearing: the outer, middle and inner ear together with the auditory nerve that transmits sounds to the brain. Conductive hearing loss resulting from dysmorphogenesis of this critical component of the hearing apparatus is an important biological and human health problem. Morphogenesis and identification of molecular mechanisms involved in patterning the middle ear from induction to complete organogenesis is an exciting, developing research area.
The Araucana breed of chicken are rumpless, tufted and lay blue eggs. Genetic analysis reveals that the rumpless and tufted phenotypes result from separate mutations. Analysis of the genetics and molecular mechanism resulting in the rumpless phenotype in these birds will provide insight into the mechanism of caudal spine patterning. Similarly, analysis of the mechanism resulting in middle and outer ear defects of the tufted phenotype will provide insight into syndromes affecting these structures
