Johns Hopkins University · BiologyJohnston Development Lab
Robert John Johnston · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Robert Johnston's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding how cells determine their fates in a stochastic (random) manner during eye development, particularly in fruit flies. The research aims to uncover the genetic and signaling mechanisms that lead to proper development of different cell types, which is essential for functions like vision and smell. By using the fly eye as a model, the lab studies how genes turn on and off randomly in some cells, and how this process is influenced by both internal (like transcription factors) and external (like signaling pathways) cues.
stochastic gene expressioncell fate specificationeye developmentsignaling mechanismstranscriptional regulationchromatin dynamicsphotoreceptorscell-cell signaling
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how transcription and chromatin regulation influence stochastic cell fate specification.
AIM 02Explore how external signaling mechanisms affect gene expression during eye development.
AIM 03Characterize the interplay between stochastic and stereotypical cell patterning in the fly eye.
AIM 04Analyze the genetic components driving random fate choices in photoreceptor development.
AIM 05Determine the implications of stochastic cell fate specification for understanding vision and other disorders.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRDNA visualizationlive imagingmutant analysisreporter systemschromatin compaction assaysgenetic manipulation in Drosophilamolecular cloningaseptic techniquesexperimental design