The Nelson Lab

We are part of the Genetics program in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut. Our lab has two main clades, the Computational Biologists and the Developmental Biologists. We are constantly striving to bring these camps together seeking fertile cross-pollination. At the moment, the focus of the computational group is comparative mammalian genomics and the evolution of genome complexity. This group is studying the evolution of mammalian gene families by gene duplication and addressing the origin and evolution of gene structure. On the developmental side of the lab we are looking at early embryogenesis through the lens of stem cell differentiation. To do this we have developed single cell analysis techniques that allow us to follow individual stem cells as they develop in vitro. Through a collaboration with labs at the CRB we are also using this technique to optimize directed differentiation techniques for the generation of insulin producing pancreatic cells, neurons, and skeletal muscle.

Dr. Craig Nelson