Marcus L Vargas

Marcus L Vargas, M.A., M.Phil.

(Ph.D. in progress)
  • Position:
    Graduate Student - Ph.D.

    Genetics and Development

    Columbia University (New York, NY)

  •  
  • Advisor:

    Iva Greenwald

  •  
  • Degrees:
     
    Ph.D. (in progress), Genetics and Development, Columbia University (New York, NY)
     
    M.Phil., Genetics and Development, Columbia University (New York, NY)
     
    M.A., Genetics and Development, Columbia University (New York, NY)
     
    B.S., Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)
  •  
  • Past Advisors:
     
    Jeffrey A. Simon (as Undergraduate Student)
  •  
  • Research:
    Cell fate specification of Lin-12/NOTCH in vulval development of C. elegans.

    LIN-12/Notch signaling mediates cell-cell interactions that affect cell fate decisions. The LIN-12/Notch pathway is highly conserved among many species from the nematode to humans. The nematode C. elegans has been instrumental in understanding the mechanisms upon which the LIN-12/Notch affects cell fate decisions. When LIN-12/Notch proteins are activated by ligand, they are cleaved proteolytically and the intracellular domain becomes part of a transcriptional activation complex that promotes target gene expression.

    The decisions involved in the C. elegans vulval development have been an important paradigm for elucidating many aspects of LIN-12/Notch function. LIN-12/Notch induces a subset of multi-competent group of cells, known as the Vulval Precursor Cells (VPCs), into adopting a specific cell fate choice known as the secondary fate. The choice of cell fate requires the expression of the correct target genes. In the course of this work, there will be a focus on the secondary fate induced by LIN-12. A combination of computational and in-vivo approaches will be used to uncover additional factors required for proper activation of target genes of LIN-12 in a tissue specific manner.

  •  
  • Other Experience:

    2001-2003 Research Technician

Life Sciences
Communities:

Marcus Vargas's Genealogy

The Adobe Flash Player plugin (version 8) is required to view the genealogy tree.
Download the plugin here.


Marcus Vargas's Publications (3)



Websites


Join Epernicus (membership is free)
Epernicus is open to current and former research scientists.
First name:
Last name:
Email:

(we don't share your email)

Already a member?
Sign in to view Marcus's full profile.