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About our research

Zap Project

We are pursuing a mapping-by-sequencing approach to identify a gene involved in the response to electric shock. We are obtaining outcrossed lines that are homozygous for an unknown mutation and will pool the DNA from these lines and send that DNA for whole genome sequencing. In this way we hope to get close to identifying the causal mutation.

Precipice  Project

We characterized a previously unstudied aversive behavior in which worms reverse upon encountering the edge of a cliff (Mitchell et al., microPublication Biology 2021). We are currently working to identify the neurons and sensory modalities involved in this response by studying mutants and utilizing a variety of experimental designs. 

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