Scientific topics
Keywords
Alain Ghysen PhD
Course and current status
Born July 31, 1945 at Uccle (Belgium)
Ph D, 1971, Université Libre de Bruxelles, with Prof. R. Thomas
post-docs: Jan.1971 - Jan.1973, with Prof. J. Allende, Universidad de Chile, Santiago (Chile) Fellowship Ford Foundation
Mar.1973 - Jul.1973, with Dr. J. Smith, M.R.C. Cambridge (U.K.)
Sep.1973 - Jun.1975, with Prof. S. Benzer, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)
present position: Senior Scientist (Directeur de Recherche) at INSERM, France
Scientific summary
1. Development of sensory organs in Drosophila. Role of proneural genes (achaete, scute, asense) in this development; identification and role of the prepattern gene iroquois, and of the sensory type specification gene pox-neuro.
2. Development of the sensory lateral line system in zebrafish. Identification of the molecules underlying long-distance migration; demonstration of a progressive, multi-step development of the system; evolutionary comparison between zebrafish and tunafish; discovery of somatotopy in the reinnervation and role of GDNF as guidance factor.
