Dr. Ann Dorward - February 1, 2012

From gene discovery to gene-environment interactions: the mouse as a tool for reproductive physiology research

Our laboratory has made use of spontaneous and induced mouse models of reproductive dysfunction to describe genetic changes that are responsible for heritable phenotypes of interest, particularly those which have clinical correlates in the human population. In addition to the genetic mechanisms, it is our goal to describe the physiological outcomes that result from genetic change, and to explore the consequence of a gene's altered function in the context of changing environments (hormones, diet, pharmacologic agents) or genetic backgrounds (gene-gene interactions).