Dr. Rob Denell's laboratory

"We work with insects to study fundamental biological processes important to normal development and to cancer. For both ethical and scientific reasons, insects offer powerful experimental approaches not possible in humans. History strongly supports the view that such insect studies can give key information about humans. For example, the Hox genes we discovered and study in insects are also present in the human genome. They are important for normal development, and when activated at inappropriate locations and times can cause cancers. Further studies of these genes in insects have good potential to inform us with respect to the mechanisms important to human development and the formation of cancers."