Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Genetics & Molecular Biology

Molecular Biology is a fundamental area of investigative research in Biology that employs new technologies and experimental approaches to examine fundamental processes in all living organisms. In the course of these investigations, we use wide variety of model organisms, including mice, guinea pigs, human tissue cell cultures, the nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans, the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, model bacteria and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The research is of immediate relevance to human health in many areas including cancer, inherited genetic diseases and disease resistance, DNA repair, and neurosystem development and function. We welcome strong applicants as undergraduate researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Expandable List

  • BIOL 6B03 / Plant Metabolism and Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 6P03 / Medical Microbiology
  • BIOL 6DD3 / Molecular Evolution
  • BIOL 709 / Special Topics in Biology
  • BIOL 715 / Topics in Evolutionary Genetics
  • BIOL 720 / Bioinformatics
  • BIOL 721 / Topics in Molecular Evolution
  • BIOL 775 / Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Genomics
  • Education *750 / Principles and Practices of University Teaching

Explore the Graduate Courses page for more information

  • The Bedard lab has uncovered new Src-kinase interacting genes associated with human cancers
  • The Campos lab has found that insulin signaling regulates feeding behavior in Drosophila
  • The Daniel lab has discovered proteins that regulate Wnt pathway function in cancerous growth and metastasis
  • The Gupta lab has developed novel worm microfluidics chips for neurodegeneration and drug discovery research (Rezai et al., Lab Chip)
  • Using Drosophila heart as a model, the Jacobs lab has shown that integrins play important roles in cardioblast polarization
  • 2.8 million dollar Ontario Research Fund awarded to Dr. Herb Schellhorn and colleagues, to fund studies identifying diagnostic genetic determinant in E. coli and other pathogens.
  • 3.5 million dollar Ontario Research Fund grant awarded to Drs Weretilnyk and Cameron to use next generation sequencing to reveal the incredible stress tolerance mechanisms of the Yukon native plant Thellungiella. The long term goal is use this knowledge to improve crop stress tolerance and sustainability.
  • The Stone lab has developed a computational model to explain echinoid skeleton form and growth
  • The Zhu lab has discovered a number of molecular interactions important for telomere maintenance and genomic stability.

Genetics & Molecular Biology

A portrait of Juliet Daniel

Juliet Daniel

Professor, Associate Dean, Research and International Relations

A portrait of Marie Elliot

Marie Elliot

Professor, Department Chair, Faculty of Science Research Chair

A portrait of Jonathon Stone

Jonathon Stone

Associate Professor, Director, Origins Institute, Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies)