ABSTRACT
In this perspective I look back on the twists and turns that influenced the direction of my scientific career over the past 40 years. From my early ambition to be a chemist to my training in Philadelphia and Bethesda as a molecular biologist, I benefited enormously from generous and valuable mentoring. In my independent career in Philadelphia and Princeton, I was motivated by a keen interest in the changes in gene expression that direct the development of the mammalian embryo and inspired by the creativity and energy of my students, fellows, and research staff. After twelve years as President of Princeton University, I have happily returned to the faculty of the Department of Molecular Biology.
Subject(s)
Molecular Biology/history , Universities/history , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Canada , Chromosome Walking , Embryonic Development/genetics , Eye Proteins/genetics , Eye Proteins/history , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Genomic Imprinting , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Homeodomain Proteins/genetics , Homeodomain Proteins/history , Humans , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , National Institutes of Health (U.S.) , New Jersey , PAX6 Transcription Factor , Paired Box Transcription Factors/genetics , Paired Box Transcription Factors/history , RNA Splicing , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/history , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Repressor Proteins/history , United States , alpha-Fetoproteins/genetics , alpha-Fetoproteins/history , beta-Globins/genetics , beta-Globins/historyABSTRACT
This is the second of two reviews that include some of the studies we, members of the Pak laboratory and collaborators, did from 2000 to 2010 on the mutants that affect synaptic transmission in the Drosophila visual system. Of the five mutants we discuss, two turned out to also play roles in the larval neuromuscular junction. This review complements the one on phototransduction to give a fairly complete account of what we focused on during the 10-year period, although we also did some studies on photoreceptor degeneration in the early part of the decade. Besides showing the power of using a genetic approach to the study of synaptic transmission, the review contains some unexpected results that illustrate the serendipitous nature of research.
Subject(s)
Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , Drosophila/physiology , Eye Proteins/metabolism , Light Signal Transduction/physiology , Synapses/physiology , Visual Pathways/physiology , Animals , Chloride Channels , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Drosophila Proteins/history , Eye Proteins/genetics , Eye Proteins/history , Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group F-H , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Ion Channels , Light Signal Transduction/genetics , Mutation , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Synapses/genetics , Synaptic Transmission/genetics , Synaptic Transmission/physiology , TRPA1 Cation Channel , TRPC Cation ChannelsABSTRACT
In January 1910, a century ago, Thomas Hunt Morgan discovered his first Drosophila mutant, a white-eyed male (Morgan 1910). Morgan named the mutant gene white and soon demonstrated that it resided on the X chromosome. This was the first localization of a specific gene to a particular chromosome. Thus began Drosophila experimental genetics. The story of the initial work on white is well known but what is less well appreciated is the multiplicity of ways in which this gene has been used to explore fundamental questions in genetics. Here, I review some of the highlights of a century's productive use of white in Drosophila genetics.
