Brad Hersh

Headshot of Bradley Hersh
Email: bhersh@allegheny.edu
Office Phone: (814) 332-5206
Office Building: STEF
Office Room: B311
Box #: 10

Professional Title/s

Associate Professor : Associate Professor

Faculty Credentials

B.A., Kenyon College Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Biographical Information

Teaching

Genetics, Development and Evolution; Genetics

Research

Genetics, Developmental Biology

Research Interests

Though virtually all cells in an animal contain the same DNA sequences, different cell types (for example, 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. Research in my lab encompasses two main areas:

1) 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 this 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 in the fly hindwing. We are also interested in identifying the genes, possibly targets of Hox proteins, that are important for differences between insect species to understand how evolutionary changes occur in the developmental processes that produce animal shape.

2) Characterizing the role of gap junction proteins in the immune response of the fly to various pathogens. The long-term goal of this research is to understand how cell-cell communication influences the innate immune response. The fly has genes for eight gap junction subunits, and we use molecular techniques to increase or decrease their activity and determine the effect on survival of flies exposed to bacterial pathogens or parasitoid wasps.

More Information

Office Hours - Fall 2023 Office Hours

  • Monday: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
  • Tuesday: None
  • Wednesday: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
  • Thursday: None
  • Friday: 1:30 – 3:30 pm