Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

Current faculty members utilize molecular genetics to study the biology of individual microbes and also use microbial and non-microbial models for the study of specific cellular processes, including recombination, stress responses, aging, cancer, DNA repair, and mutagenesis.

May 29 – Dr. Lora Hooper (Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) “Circadian regulation of intestinal immunity”

Congratulations to Professor Neil Hunter being named “Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator“ as one of only 27 appointees from elite campuses across the nation including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, UCSF and UC Berkeley. [Full Story]
Congratulations to Professor Michele Igo, Vice-Chair of our Department, to her well-deserved promotion to Full Professor effective July 1, 2013.
Researchers in the lab of Professor Stephen Kowalczykowski have imaged single strands of DNA being prepped for repair. Their findings have implications for understanding the development of breast cancer. [Full Story]
John Roth comments in “Evolution of new genes captured” and Scientific American “Gene Genesis: Scientists Observe New Genes Evolving from Mutated Copies”

Taxis to Phenylacetic Acid by Pseudomonas putida F1 is Mediated by the Energy Taxis Receptor Aer2. [Parales]
A new protein complex promoting the assembly of Rad51 filaments. [Hunter]
Exploring protein-DNA interactions in 3D using in situ construction, manipulation and visualization of individual DNA dumbbells with optical traps, microfluidics and fluorescence microscopy. [Kowalczykowski]

Michiko Kato (Lin Lab) and Rita Luu (Parales Lab) are two of the recipients of the 2012-13 CBS Dean’s Mentorship Award, which provides support to a graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in the mentorship of undergraduate students, and additional funding to support the research of the undergraduates who are being mentored by that graduate student.
Duy Tran, an undergraduate student working in Dr. Lifeng Xu’s lab, was awarded a President’s Undergraduate Fellowship for 2012-13.
Aaron Heuckroth (Microbiology peer advisor): College of Biological Sciences College Medal
Becky Fu (Heyer Lab): President’s Undergraduate Fellowship, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, and Ronald and Lydia Baskin Award. After her graduation with a BS in Genetics, Becky joined the Genetics Graduate Program at Stanford University.