Unit
The OATES LAB, led by Prof. Oates, focuses on understanding spatio-temporal patterns at the tissue level in vertebrate embryos, particularly the segmentation clock. By studying genetic oscillators, they investigate the principles governing transitions from parts to wholes and the precision of tissue patterning. Their interdisciplinary team of biologists, engineers, and physicists uses molecular genetics, quantitative imaging, and theoretical analysis to explore the mechanisms behind cellular oscillations and regulatory networks. Through their research, they have identified mutations affecting the segmentation clock's dynamics and developed new transgenic tools to study wave patterns of gene expression in real time.