Douglas Chalker

Douglas Chalker is a Professor of Biology at Washington University, serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies. His laboratory focuses on understanding genome remodeling processes in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila, particularly the elimination of germline DNA segments during development. Research combines genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches to unravel mechanisms linking RNA interference (RNAi), chromatin modifications, and DNA excision.

His lab explores how bi-directional germline transcription generates scan RNAs that target chromatin modifications, guiding DNA rearrangement machinery to remove ~6000 specific segments. This work contributes to broader understanding of epigenetic programming, heterochromatin formation, and chromosome stability in eukaryotes.

Chalker teaches Lab Experiments with Eukaryotic Microbes, a research-intensive course emphasizing molecular and cytological techniques in model organisms. Students conduct original projects on uncharacterized genes, culminating in a scientific paper and symposium presentation.

Key research themes include RNAi mechanisms, chromatin dynamics, and the role of chromoshadow domain proteins like LIA4 and LIA5 in genome reorganization. Recent studies (2013–2014) highlight discoveries about importin alpha proteins, histone methylation pathways, and nuclear differentiation processes.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials. His work is supported through grants enabling exploration of fundamental biological principles governing genome structure and stability.

Chalker’s lab collaborates across disciplines, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to study epigenetic phenomena in ciliates. Future work aims to elucidate how RNA molecules communicate genetic information between parental and somatic genomes, with implications for understanding chromosome stability mechanisms in diverse organisms.