Research

We study how inappropriate inheritance of chromatin states affects somatic development. Currently, we have a series of C. elegans mutants that inappropriately inherit different levels of H3K4me2 that correlates with the ectopic expression levels of germline genes in somatic tissues. These mutants display a range on interesting developmental phenotypes, including developmental delay, cell migration defects, sterility, and many more we are characterizing now. All the projects in the Carpenter Lab employ combinations of large genomic experiments, knocking down genes using genetics and/or RNAi, fluorescent and DIC imaging of whole worms, building new worm strains, and counting/scoring developmental phenotypes. 

Image: Sandra Nguyen (left- KSU undergraduate and 2022 Birla Scholar!) and Dr. Carpenter (right) checking out developmental phenotypes on the dissecting scope!