# GENETIC ANALYSIS OF BURSAL MORPHOGENESIS IN C ELEGANS

> **NIH NIH R29** · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (COLORADO SEMINARY) · 1993 · $98,198

## Abstract

We seek to understand the molecular basis of morphogenesis, that is, the
process by which organisms realize their final form.  As a model system,
we will study the morphogenesis of the male copulatory bursa of the
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.  This system is particularly well-
suited for the study of morphogenesis because of the facility of genetic
analysis in C. elegans and because its entire development can be
directly and continuously followed in living animals.  Understanding the
molecular basis of bursal morphogenesis will be of general relevance
because this process involves fundamental mechanisms (e.g., neuronal
wiring, cell migration, secretion of extracellular structural material,
etc.), defects in which can result in human disease.

We will undertake a genetic analysis of bursal morphogenesis.  Our goal
is to identify genes (and their products) involved in coordianting cell-
cell interactions in space and time.  The proposed research includes a
detailed analysis of two genes, mab-10 and mab(ct109), that have been
implicated from our preliminary studies to be involved in temporal
regulation and cell-cell interaction, respectively.  We will also
isolate and characterize additional mutations that perturb bursal
morphogenesis.  These mutants will be identified by screening for male
infertility or by using a novel screen based on our recent
identification of bursa-specific surface markers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199836
- **Project number:** 5R29HD026087-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (COLORADO SEMINARY)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** WCUGNQQ8DZU1
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher D. Link
- **Activity code:** R29 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $98,198
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-07-01 → 1995-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199836, GENETIC ANALYSIS OF BURSAL MORPHOGENESIS IN C ELEGANS (5R29HD026087-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199836. Licensed CC0.

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