Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Geneticists seek to understand how genes are inherited, modified, expressed and regulated, as well as the genetic basis of human disease. The field of genetics and genomics has been astonishingly successful in deciphering the genetic code and providing us with a clear picture of the nature of the gene, but much remains to be learned about fundamental genetic mechanisms and how specific gene mutations lead to disease. How is it that only the appropriate genes are turned on in a particular cell type? How do cells replicate their genes with remarkable speed and fidelity? By what processes do genes become altered to drive evolution or cause disease? Uncovering answers to such fundamental questions makes genetics and genomics an exciting and important field of biology.

Laboratories in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics (MGG) program leverage human genetics, model organism genetics, and genomic and computational approaches to address key outstanding questions in all areas of biomedical research with a focus on human disease. Integrating wet and dry bench approaches, students in the MGG program advance our understanding of the genetic, cellular, and molecular basis of how cells, tissues, and organs develop and function and how alterations in these processes lead to disease. MGG laboratories at WashU have been at the forefront of human molecular genetics and the Human Genome Project. Students interested in studying fundamental genetic mechanisms, as well as those who desire to apply this knowledge to human biology, will find scores of laboratories within the program in which to pursue their doctoral research.