Developmental Control

Our work aims at understanding how gene networks and their architecture control cell specification and the patterning, size and shape of organs. To this aim we use genetics, genomics, quantitative imaging and advanced microscopy techniques, as well as mathematical modeling. The main model organism is Drosophila melanogaster. although we have more recently introduced new non-model dipteran and ephemeropteran species to study the control and evolution of organ size and shape. The main focus is on the visual system.