James Priess, PhD

Dr. James Priess studies the molecular biology of early development using the nematode C. elegans as a model system. Many animals produce large numbers of female germ cells, called oogonia, but only a few of these are selected for fertilization. The remaining cells undergo programmed cell death, a pathway that is well-conserved between humans and nematodes. Dr. Priess works to understand the factors that contribute either to the survival or destruction of developing oogonia. His team’s recent work has shown that oogonia with twice the normal number of chromosomes can become viable embryos but are recognized and targeted for destruction in normal development.