Genetics and Genomics


The Genetics and Genomics specialization area provides rigorous training in the molecular and genetic analysis of fundamental molecular and cellular processes. As the broadest specialization in the department, Genetics and Genomics encompasses diverse, current research problems in a wide range of systems. Faculty in this area use state-of-the-art approaches such as genetics of model organisms, bioinformatics, computational biology and functional genomics to study cellular development, signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, microbial pathogenesis, and the evolutionary origin of higher organisms.

 

This specialization area is interdepartmental, including not only several CBMG faculty members but also members of the Computer Science, Entomology and Avian and Animal Sciences Departments at the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Maryland Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Center for Biosystems Research, and The Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland Medical School. The multidisciplinary expertise of our faculty greatly facilitates collaborative studies that integrate diverse aspects of investigation from computation to the genetic manipulation of model organisms.


GRADUATE PROGRAM


  • Students with interests in Molecular Genetics should apply to the Biological Sciences (BISI) Graduate Program and, specifically, to the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MOCB) concentration area within that program. 
  • Students interested in a more computational approach may choose to apply to the Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genomics (CBBG) concentration area within BISI. 
  • All Ph.D. students in these concentration areas receive a broad background in molecular biology and molecular genetics, plus advanced training in their particular research area.
  • Students are expected to develop not only technical expertise, but also the critical thinking skills necessary for a rewarding career as an independent scientist.
  • All first year Ph.D. students enroll in core courses, participate in lab rotations, and attend seminars. An advisory committee, in consultation with the research advisor, then helps each student choose the advanced courses that are appropriate for his/her research plans and career objectives.
  • In addition to formal courses, the program provides opportunities for critical discussion of the scientific literature through seminar courses and journal clubs.
  • The department also organizes monthly meetings in different specialization areas, such as:
  • Recent Ph.D. graduates have gone on to positions as postdoctoral researchers, faculty members and independent scientists in universities, biotechnology companies and government agencies.

Graduate Courses in Molecular Genetics

  • CBMG688D: Cell Biology I, Structure and Function
  • CBMG688E: Cell Biology II, Signal Transduction
  • CBMG688F: Genetics I, Gene Expression
  • CBMG688I: Genetics II
  • CBMG688P: Plant Development and Physiology I
  • CBMG688R: Plant Development and Physiology II
  • CBMG688L: Microbial Pathogenesis
  • CBMG688Y: Bioinformatics and Genomics
  • CBMG688B: Bioethics
  • Current Journal Clubs: Genetics of Eukaryotic Model Systems ; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Faculty in Genetics & Genomics

Kan Cao, Assistant Professor Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 2005. Molecular mechanisms of Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome and normal aging.

 

Caren Chang, Professor Ph.D. California Institute of Technology, 1988. Plant molecular biology: signaltransduction; hormonal signaling.

 

James Culver, Affiliate Professor, Center for Biosystems Research, UMBI Ph.D. University of California, Riverside 1991. Molecular plant-virus interactions; virion assembly, replication, and long-distance movement of tobacco mosaic virus.

 

Charles F. Delwiche, Professor Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990. Molecular systematics, phylogeny, and evolution of chloroplasts.

 

Jeffrey DeStefano, Professor Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 1990. Mechanism of retroviral reverse transcriptases as it relates to replication and recombination.

 

Jonathan Dinman, Professor Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 1988. Immunology and Infectious Diseases: Virology, Ribosome Structure & Function and Regulation of Gene Expression.

 

Najib El-Sayed, Associate Professor Ph.D. Yale University School of Medicine, 1993. Biology of parasitism and host-pathogen interactions using genomic approaches with the ultimate goal of better understanding infection and survival mechanisms.

 

Iqbal Hamza, Affiliate Associate Professor Ph.D. State University of New York School of Medicine, 1998. Cell Biology and Genetics of Micronutrient and Metal Metabolism.

 

Steven W. Hutcheson, Professor Ph.D. University of California Berkeley, 1982. Molecular plant pathology; molecular biology of Pseudomonas parasitism; role and regulation of Type III protein secretion systems; pathogenicity and non host plant resistance.

 

Antony M Jose, Assistant Professor. Ph.D. Yale University, 2005. Movement of RNA between animal cells and across generations.

 

Vincent Lee, Assistant Professor Ph.D. University of California - Los Angles, 2000. Host-pathogen interactions, Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Allosteric regulation of molecular complexes.

 

Zhongchi Liu, Professor Ph.D. Harvard University, 1990. Flower development in Arabidopsis.

 

Kevin S. McIver, Professor and Associate Chair. Ph.D. University of Tennessee Sciences Center, 1994. Host-Bacterial pathogen interactions; Molecular mechanisms of virulence gene regulation in Streptococcus pyogenes; Protein secretion in Francisella tularensis.

 

Stephen Mount, Associate Professor Ph.D. Yale University, 1983. Selection of splice sites in pre-mRNA splicing.

 

Leslie Pick, Affiliate Professor Ph.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., 1986. Embryonic development, evolution and axon guidance in Drosophila.

 

Mihai Pop, Affiliate Associate Professor Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 2000. Bioinformatics, genomics, computational geometry, and computer graphics.

 

Sougata Roy, Assistant Professor. Ph.D. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 2006. Cellular and molecular basis of cell-cell communication in development of multicellular organism

 

Anne Simon, Professor Ph.D. Indiana University, 1983. Molecular biology of plant-virus interactions.

 

Daniel C. Stein, Professor Ph.D. University of Rochester, 1981. Molecular genetics; virulence mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria; Characterization of DNA Restriction and Modification Systems.

 

David Straney, Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies Ph.D. Yale University, 1987. Fungal molecular biology, host recognition in the induction of pathogenicity genes and development.

 

Heven Sze, Professor Ph.D. Purdue University, 1975. Biochemistry and physiology: membrane structure, function, and biogenesis; mechanism and regulation of solute transport; bioenergetics; proton and calcium-pumping ATPases.

 

Louisa Wu, Associate Professor, Center for Biosystems Research, UMBI Ph.D. University of California, 1995, San Diego. Host defense against pathogens; signal transduction and cell-cell signaling in the innate immune response in insects.

 

Owen White, Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine Ph.D. New Mexico State University, New Mexico, 1992. Genomics.

 

Wade C. Winkler, Associate Professor Ph.D. The Ohio State University, 2002. RNA-based regulation of gene expression in bacteria.

 

Shunyuan Xiao, Affiliate Associate Professor, Center for Biosystems Research, UMBI Ph.D Plant Genetics, Huazhong Agricultural University, China 1992.Cellular and molecular bases of plant defense. UMBI at Shady Grove.