Michelina Iacovino
Assistant Professor
Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute
United States of America
Biography
The cardiovascular and blood system are the first organs to develop in the embryos, due their vital function to bring oxygen and nutrients to the fast growing embryo. Defects in these system cause death of the developing embryos. Both of them originate from the same embryonic tissue, the mesoderm very early in development. Differentiation of ES cells mimic quite faithfully the early patterning of mesoderm, with the advantage of having plenty of material for molecular analysis. We are interested in understanding the role of Hox Genes, essential transcription factors for organogenesis, in the developing heart and blood system.
Research Interest
CARDIAC SPECIFICATION,HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL (HSC) GENERATION:
Publications
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HoxA3 is an apical regulator of haemogenic endothelium. Nat Cell Biol. 2011
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Inducible cassette exchange: a rapid and efficient system enabling conditional gene expression in embryonic stem and primary cells. Stem Cells. 2011
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A critical role for endoglin in the emergence of blood during embryonic development. Blood. 2012
