Ascidian gene regulation and bioadhesion

Abstract

During my university studies in Munich, Germany, I explored Zoology, Biochemistry, Parasitology, and Immunology to focus on tumor biology and melanoma formation in my Diploma and PhD projects in Judy Johnson's lab. She encouraged, guided, and provided maximal freedom for scientific thinking and all basic methods. Cell specification and the plasticity of cell fate in response to surrounding signals and the resulting precise gene activation/repression mechanisms remain my strong interest. At the end of my PhD I came to three major conclusions: first, we cannot fully understand a patho-