Name: Elena S Silva

Position: Assistant Professor

Research Description:

The embryos of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, have the been a favorite tool of classical embryologists for over 100 years. Xenopus has been useful in the study of vertebrate development because the embryos are large, easily manipulated and develop externally, allowing analysis at very early, picture of Xenopus laevishighly conserved stages of development. Therefore, embryos can be subjected to microsurgical manipulation to remove or transplant embryonic tissues, or injected to express large quantities of a transcription factor. Such experiments have provided information on the inductive contacts required for pattern formation and have defined many of the molecular interactions involved in early development.

The goal of the Casey lab is to define the gene network that controls the induction and patterning of the central nervous system. The CNS is derived from the ectoderm which can develop into either epidermal or neural tissue (see below). The neural tissue can then differentiate into either neurons or glial cells. Many of the signal pathways and transcription facors involved in directing these fate choices are known however, the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. To elucidate this mechanism, our studies focus on the regulation of the SoxB genes which encode highly conserved, HMG box transcription factors involved in the formation of CNS. By studying the regulation of the SoxB genes and the function of proteins, we can piece together the steps that drive ectoderm to develop into epidermis and neural tissue to form a neuron.

Lab Memberships

Silva-Casey Lab (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
Georgetown University
Department of Biology
406 Reiss Science Building
Washington, DC
20057, USA

Web Page: https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014RlvYAAS/elena-silva
Phone:  202 687-0858
Fax:  202 687-5662