Biology

Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Biology
Other Departments: Biochemistry
Degrees: B.A., Kenyon College; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Contact Info

Email: bhersh@allegheny.edu
Phone: (814)-332-6206
Website: Click here.

Office Info

Office Location: Steffee Hall B311
Office Hours: W 10-12; Th 1:30-3:30; F 10-12

Research Interests

Though virtually all cells in an animal contain the same DNA sequences, different cell types (e.g., muscle cells and nerve cells) have distinct physical properties.  These differences are achieved during growth and development of the organism by switching on and off specific sets of genes within the common DNA sequence.  My research focuses on identifying and characterizing the DNA sequences that control when, where, and at what level gene expression is switched on and off in the developing animal body.  The long term goal of my research is to understand the mechanisms by which Hox proteins, involved in shaping the head-to-tail patterning of all animals, regulate their target genes.  We use the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to examine the DNA sequences that respond to the Hox protein Ultrabithorax and either activate or repress gene expression the Drosophilahindwing.  The lab uses molecular biological techniques to generate variants of sequences shown to be important for gene expression, and then tests the function of these variants in transgenic animals by looking at fluorescent reporter gene activity.  In addition, we are interested in identifying the genes that are important for morphological differences between insect species so that we may understand evolutionary changes that occur in the developmental processes that produce animal shape.