Ohio University

Soichi Tanda

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Genetics, Molecular and Developmental Biology The main focus in my laboratory is to understand genetic and molecular mechanisms of blood cell differentiation in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Using the best model organism for genetic research, we aim to identify genes important for blood cell differentiation and to elucidate their interactions at the molecular level. The genes of our interest have human counterparts, thus we hope that the progress in the laboratory contributes to a better understanding and an effective cure of leukemia. We are particularly interested in how the fruit fly controls the total blood cell number and how it differentially produces different types of blood cells for their defense against bacterial and fungal infections. Our study also explores to understand how stem cells give rise to daughter cells with different cell fates.