Barbara Jean Meyer

Research explores mechanisms by which small quantitative differences in molecular signals are translated into alternative developmental fates and means by which genetic regulatory hierarchies control developmental decisions. Her work has elucidated how the nematode C. elegans measures X-chromosome dose to determine sex and how it equalizes X-chromosome gene expression between XO males and XX hermaphrodites. Her work also investigates other molecular networks that control dynamic chromosome behaviors during development, including chromosome cohesion to tether and release replicated chromosomes for reducing genome copy number in germ cells and chromosome compaction to control chromosome segregation and recombination between maternal and paternal chromosomes.