Dr. Richard Mann

Biography

Richard S. Mann is the Higgins Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University. His research focuses on the genetic control of pattern formation in Drosophila, particularly through the investigation of homeotic genes and their downstream targets. His laboratory employs Drosophila melanogaster to tackle three primary problems: the specificity of Hox protein functions, the mechanisms of appendage development, and the development of the adult motor system. Mann's work on Hox proteins addresses two central questions: how homeodomain-containing transcription factors achieve specificity in vivo and which target genes these factors regulate to control morphogenesis. His laboratory utilizes a range of techniques, including in vitro DNA binding assays, structural biology, and in vivo reporter gene assays, as well as genome-wide methods to discover and validate Hox target genes and binding sites. Additionally, his research into appendage development explores the positional information generated along the proximo-distal axis and the regulation of cell proliferation in relation to coordinated cell differentiation. Mann's interest extends to the adult motor system, focusing on the relationship between motor neurons, leg development, and sensory feedback mechanisms in locomotion. He conducts locomotion assays to analyze the walking behavior of adult Drosophila, providing insights into the circuitry involved in movement.

Research Interests