Current Research
Mechanisms of Chromosome Organization and Dynamics in Meiosis
Abby Dernburg’s research focuses on chromosome organization and dynamics during meiosis, the unique cell division process that gives rise to reproductive cells such as sperm, eggs, pollen, and spores. Dernburg and her team study how chromosomes find and recognize their partners, and how recombination between chromosomes is regulated. They use genetic analysis, high-resolution live imaging, biochemistry, and structural biology, primarily in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The team also studies the evolution and plasticity of meiosis by comparing the mechanisms underlying these events in C. elegans to those in other nematode species.