Jacquetta Trasler
Professor, Department of Human Genetics and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
My research focuses on how the environment, including our diets and the drugs and toxins we are exposed to, interacts with our genes to cause growth disorders and birth defects in children. Two to four percent of children are born with birth defects. In two thirds of these cases, the causes are unknown. Epigenetics, broadly defined as heritable “tags” or modifications to our genes that modulate gene expression, has been shown to play a key role in normal development in addition to genes. Epigenetic information in our genomes can help us adapt to new environments, yet when abnormal, it can contribute to disease. My laboratory uses mouse and clinical studies to determine the role of epigenetics and the environment in causing birth defects associated with the use of assisted reproductive technologies as well as the father’s exposure to drugs and chemicals.
Lab Members:
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
|
Josée Martel |
Research Associate |
josee.martel [at] mail.mcgill.ca |