The genetic basis of the long-term maintenance of muscle function in animals.

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The overall goal of my research is to understand how tissues form and once they form how they maintain their organization throughout the life of the organism. In particular my lab utilizes genetic approaches to dissect various mechanism ensure tissues are able to maintain their structure and thus their ability to function throughout life. Muscle cells are particularly interesting in this regard because they are both highly organized structurally and relatively long lived, meaning that they sustain their structural integrity for a long time. This is remarkable because muscle withstand enormous mechanical loads as the undergo cycles of relaxation and contraction. The NSERC funded research program I propose will investigate the how muscle cells are able to maintain their organization and function throughout the life of the organism while under sustained mechanical strain.