University of Pennsylvania · BiologyMullins Lab
Mary C. Mullins · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Mary C. Mullins' lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how specific proteins influence the growth and organization of cells during embryonic development, specifically using zebrafish as a model organism. The research examines the roles of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) in signaling pathways that dictate the formation of organs and tissues, as well as investigating the establishment of cell polarity in oocytes which is crucial for proper embryonic development. The findings could be significant for improving therapeutic approaches in tissue engineering and addressing congenital diseases.
BMP signalingcell polarityembryonic developmentzebrafishoocyte biologytissue engineeringprotein aggregationorgan systemscongenital diseases
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how BMP heterodimers signal more effectively than homodimers
AIM 02Study the role of Bucky ball in oocyte polarity and axis formation
AIM 03Explore the establishment and regulation of the Balbiani body in zebrafish
AIM 04Analyze proteomic data to understand protein interactions during development
AIM 05Determine the impact of BMP signaling on organ and tissue formation.
Skills the Lab Values
in vivo imagingzebrafish modelsproteomicsPCRcell culturebioinformaticsmicroscopyWestern blotgenetic manipulation
Output against the department
Publications190top 34% of dept.350th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 21% of dept.219th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.