Genetic Control of Organogenesis
 

Project leader: Prof. Seppo Vainio, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu

mailing address:
P.O.Box 5000, FIN-90014 University of Oulu, Finland

street address:
Aapistie 5A, 90220 Oulu, Finland
Tel. +358-(0)294 486084,
Fax +358-8-537 6115,
e-mail: seppo.vainio (at) oulu.fi

About the project

Even though significant progress has been made in biomedical research in the past few years we still fail to understand the very fundamental question that governs all living organisms, namely how forms in biology are set up in general? Organisms differ a great deal in their body plans and organ shapes. Also, the individual constituent cells within organs differ considerably with respect to their shape. How this is regulated, what is the underlying significance of a form and how the form achieves its limits are still unknown in any system. There is a considerable amount of knowledge of the constituent elementary drivers of form and we have also identified sets of genes essential in the process. We have classified thousands of genes, proteins and metabolites in developing organs, but how is their interaction governed so that, let’s say, a kidney instead of a lung develops from similar basic elements? This research programme is aimed at increasing fundamental knowledge of how organ assembly processes are controlled and how an organ with its characteristic pattern is established as a result of morphogenetic tissue interactions. The project is part of the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme funded by the Academy of Finland (Centre of Excellence Grant 2012 - 2017, 251314)
 

Project details
 

1. Background and Significance
2. Recent Progress
3. Future Goals
4. Publications 2012-
5. Doctoral Theses 2012
6. Research Group Members
7. National and International Activities