Brown University · BiochemistryWessel Lab
Gary M Wessel · Providence, Rhode Island
Research Focus
Gary Wessel's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding how primordial germ cells are formed and regenerated during early development in animals like sea urchins and sea stars. Unlike mammals, these unique organisms allow the lab to study germline biology with advanced techniques that reveal insights into sexual reproduction and regeneration. The research aims to decode the mechanisms behind germ cell formation and explore ways these processes can be innovatively manipulated in the lab.
germline biologyprimordial germ cellsdevelopmental biologyregenerationsea urchinssea starsgene expressionmolecular techniquesCRISPRoptogenetics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how primordial germ cells form during early development.
AIM 02Explore the regenerative capabilities of germ cells when removed from embryos.
AIM 03Leverage advanced optical imaging to analyze cells in live embryos.
AIM 04Decipher the distinct mechanisms of germ cell selection in different vertebrates.
AIM 05Utilize new genetic manipulation techniques to study germ line regeneration.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemRNA sequencingin vivo imagingCRISPR/Cas9optogeneticsgene perturbation techniquescell transplantationlongitudinal analysischromatin modificationbiochemical analysis
Output against the department
Publications420top 12% of dept.47th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations10.0ktop 49% of dept.195th of 402
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.