معرفی
Francisco Pelegri serves as Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Genetics and Medical Genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research bridges fundamental developmental mechanisms and conservation applications using zebrafish and related Danionin species as model systems.
Dr. Pelegri earned his Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from MIT in 1994, followed by postdoctoral training at the Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany. His educational background established the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach combining genetics, embryology, and molecular biology.
His research program spans two interconnected domains: (1) Cellular and developmental genetics focusing on maternal factors driving the egg-to-embryo transition and germ line specification in zebrafish; and (2) Conservation genetics developing reproductive technologies for biodiversity preservation. Using zebrafish as a primary model, his lab integrates live imaging, genetic manipulation, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling to dissect cytoskeletal dynamics, RNA localization, and germ plasm organization. The conservation work leverages Danionin phylogenetics to engineer nucleocytoplasmic hybrids and germ-soma chimeras for rescuing endangered species.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2011-2019) reveals consistent focus on maternal-effect genes, germ plasm dynamics, and cytoskeletal reorganization during early embryogenesis. Key recurring themes include RNA granule assembly, calcium signaling in furrow formation, and stress granule components in developmental resilience. His work demonstrates how maternal factors establish embryonic axes and germ cell fate prior to zygotic genome activation.
As Department Chair, Pelegri oversees academic operations while maintaining an active research program. His laboratory employs interdisciplinary methodologies to address fundamental questions in developmental biology with translational applications in species conservation. Current projects optimize biobanking protocols and inter-species reproductive technologies using Danionin fish as phylogenetic models for endangered species rescue.
