Sloan-Kettering Institute // Research Programs

Developmental Biology Program

Researchers in the Developmental Biology Program study the mechanisms that control development from the single cell of the egg to the adult animal. A variety of experimental tools are used, including genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry, in order to address complex questions of pattern formation, organogenesis, and morphogenesis in the context of the whole animal.

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Developmental Genetics

Many key regulators of development have been identified in genetic screens. Researchers at SKI are using forward genetics in both Drosophila and the mouse to characterize more of the genes and processes that control patterning, morphogenesis, and cell type determination during development.

Patterning of Tissues and Organs

Construction of organs depends on interactions between tissues and signal integration. Researchers in the Developmental Biology Program use experimental embryology, cell biology, and genetics to learn how information is integrated and elaborated in the development of limbs, muscles, the hematopoietic system, the nervous system, and internal organs.

Intercellular Signaling in Development and Cancer

The same intercellular signals that control proliferation and differentiation in development can control tumor development in tumors. These common signals are a focus for study in this program.

Stem Cells

Research in the program includes studies of the control of behavior of neural stem cells. This includes studies on the signals and microenvironment that allow stem cells to remain undifferentiated and the signals that lead stem cells to differentiate into specific types of neurons.

Kathryn V. Anderson Program Chairman	Zhirong Bao	Mary Baylies	Peter Besmer
Mary Goll	Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis	Danwei Huangfu	Maria Jasin
Alexandra Joyner	Julia Kaltschmidt	Elizabeth H. Lacy	Eric C. Lai
Songhai Shi	Lorenz Studer	Jennifer A. Zallen

cell (sel)

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

differentiation (DIH-feh-REN-shee-AY-shun)

In cancer, refers to how mature (developed) the cancer cells are in a tumor. Differentiated tumor cells resemble normal cells and tend to grow and spread at a slower rate than undifferentiated or poorly differentiated tumor cells, which lack the structure and function of normal cells and grow uncontrollably.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

experimental (ek-SPAYR-ih-men-tul)

In clinical trials, refers to a drug (including a new drug, dose, combination, or route of administration) or procedure that has undergone basic laboratory testing and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in human subjects. A drug or procedure may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition, but be considered experimental in other diseases or conditions. Also called investigational.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

genetic (jeh-NEH-tik)

Inherited; having to do with information that is passed from parents to offspring through genes in sperm and egg cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

genetics (jeh-NEH-tix)

The study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nervous system (NER-vus SIS-tem)

The organized network of nerve tissue in the body. It includes the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), the peripheral nervous system (nerves that extend from the spinal cord to the rest of the body), and other nerve tissue.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

neural (NOOR-ul)

Having to do with nerves or the nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

tumor (TOO-mer)

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

undifferentiated (un-DIH-feh-REN-shee-AY-ted)

A term used to describe cells or tissues that do not have specialized ("mature") structures or functions. Undifferentiated cancer cells often grow and spread quickly.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)