The Mortlock lab has extensive expertise in mouse and human genetic mapping, disease gene cloning, mammalian developmental biology, gene structure, transgenic models, and in particular skeletal patterning and development. Work in the lab is particularly focused on the developmental expression and function of BMP family genes in animal development, and the BAC-transgene-based study of long-range cis-regulatory elements controlling Bmp2 and Bmp4 expression. Lab members are working to make connections between these regulatory networks, gleaned from combining the mouse studies with similar approaches in zebrafish, to the function of the genes in skeletal development, other cell differentiation processes. The Mortlock lab also has deep technical expertise in analyzing in vivo and in vitro gene expression, transgene expression and function, mouse genetics, genotyping and molecular biology, mouse embryology and histology, and osteoblast development..

NEWEST PUBLICATIONS

Identifying functional annotation for noncoding genomic sequences.  2012 Current Protocols in Human Genetics Chapter 1: Unit 10

Vascular tissues are a primary source of BMP2 expression during bone formation induced by distraction osteogenesis.  2012 Bone 51: 168-180

UG4 enhancer-driven GATA-2 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 complementation remedies the CAKUT phenotype in Gata2 hypomorphic mutant mice. 2012 Molecular and Cellular Biology 32: 2312-2322

The BMP ligand Gdf6 prevents differentiation of coronal suture mesenchyme in early cranial development.  2012 PLoS ONe 7: e36789