Dr. John Tower

Biography

John Tower received his PhD in 1988 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in the Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology Training Program, where he worked under Dr. Barbara Sollner-Webb on rDNA transcriptional regulation. He then undertook postdoctoral training with Dr. Allan C. Spradling at the Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution Washington in Baltimore, beginning ongoing studies on Drosophila P element mutagenesis and chorion gene amplification. In 1991, he joined the faculty at the University of Southern California's Department of Biological Sciences. Professor Tower's research focuses on molecular genetics and aging in Drosophila melanogaster, particularly studying the regulation of gene expression and the function of age-related genes such as heat shock proteins and antimicrobial peptides involved in innate immune responses. His current work emphasizes identifying candidate genes that regulate lifespan, especially in adult post-mitotic cells like muscle and nerve cells, and the roles of stem cells in aging. He has made significant contributions to understanding the influence of sex-specific hormones and their costs to health and lifespan.

Research Interests

Experience