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| Name |
Takahashi, Joseph S. |
| Location
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The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| Primary Field
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Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience |
| Secondary Field
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Systems Neuroscience |
 Election Citation
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Takahashi pioneered the use of forward genetics and positional cloning in the mouse as a tool for the discovery of the genes underlying neurobiology and behavior. His discovery of the mouse and human Clock genes led to a description of a conserved circadian clock mechanism in animals. He presently uses genetics to approach complex behaviors such as learning and memory. |
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Research Interests
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The long-term goals of the Takahashi laboratory are to understand the molecular and genetic basis of circadian rhythms in mammals and to utilize forward genetic approaches in the mouse as a tool for gene discovery for complex behavior. We have focused our attention on three areas: 1) identification of circadian clock genes and assignment of their function in the molecular mechanism of the circadian pacemaker; 2) analysis of central and peripheral circadian oscillators using real-time circadian reporters; and 3) identification of genes defined by mutations isolated in large-scale mutagenesis screens. We also work on the structural biology of circadian clock proteins and on genome-wide analysis of transcription factor binding and gene expression using next generation sequencing. Recently, my laboratory has focused on two new areas of research: 1) the role of circadian timing in aging and longevity, and 2) the circadian biology of the parasitic diseases, sleeping sickness and malaria. |
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