Assistant Professor, College of William & Mary (Department of Biology)
Post-doctoral Fellow (2001-2005) Johns Hopkins University (Department of Biology)
Ph.D. (2001) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology)
B.S. (1995) Colorado State University (Biochemsitry)
More images coming soon!!!!
Research Interests:
My laboratory studies the molecular regulation of germ cell development. Unlike all other cells in an organism, germ cells develop into either sperm or eggs and pass their genetic material to offspring. Consequently, proper germline development is crucial for fertilization and creation of the next generation. In most organisms, germ cells do not form within the gonad itself. Instead, germ line stem cells arise elsewhere and migrate into the developing gonads. Once associated with the somatic gonad, the tissues which contain and supports the germ cells, germ cells can begin to behave as functional germline stem cells with the capacity to both self-replicate and differentiate toward either male or female fates, ultimately producing functional sperm or eggs. During their early life, germ cells are exposed to a variety of signals from their surroundings in the developing embryo. My work is focused on understanding how such signals regulate two important early changes that occur in developing germ cells:
(1) How germ cells are stimulated to become male or female, producing either sperm or eggs, and
(2) Why only a subset of germ cells, rather than all germ cells, are selected to develop into functional gametes.
Germ cell development is highly conserved across phyla and species,
ranging
from insects to mammals. Therefore, understanding germline development
in
lower organisms offers insight into human disorders such
as
infertility and germ cell tumor formation. Study of germ cells in
lower
organisms such as mice, zebra fish, fruit flies and nematode worms
allows
us to make precisely controlled genetic or environmental modifications
to
test critical questions about germ cell development, fertility, genetic
disease,
and cancer. Our understanding of all of these species have been
shown
to be highly relevant to a vast array of other animals, including many
insights
into human germ cell development.
The model system in
my laboratory is the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
In addition to its scientific relevance, this system takes
advantage
of powerful genetics and a wide range of biological techniques
specifically
developed for research on fruit flies. For both undergrads and master's
students, research in my
laboratory will involve you directly in exciting areas of biology.
What you learn here may contribute to our understanding of
fundamental
aspects of genetics as well as cellular, molecular, and developmental
biology.
I would welcome
inquiries from potential master's students to work in the lab!!!
Current Projects in the Wawersik lab:
1. JAK/STAT regulation of of germ cell sex determination and germline stem cell development (see Wawersik et al, Nature: 436 pp. 563-67 for background)
2. Understanding function of the female somatic gonad in germ cell sex determination: Repression by the female somatic gonad?
3. A genetic screen for additional candidate regulators of germ cell sex determination.
4. Species conservation: JAK/STAT regulation of germ cell development in flies and beyond.
Interested
students should
contact me at mjwawe@wm.edu or
221-2237. My office is Millington 224.
Recent Publications:
Wawersik M., Milutinovich A, Casper AL, Matunis E, Williams B, Van Doren M. (2005) Somatic control of germline sexual development is mediated by the JAK/STAT pathway. Nature 436: 563-567.
Wawersik, M., and Van Doren, M., (2005) Nanos is required for maintenance of the spectrosome, a germ cell-specific organelle. Developmental Dynamics, Vol. 234, pp 22-7.
(copy of current curriculum vitae)
Last updated January 06
The College of
William
and Mary, Department of Biology