Growth Biology Emphasis

tissueGrowth Biology as an area of emphasis consists of faculty and students whose research interests center around elucidating the mechanisms by which hormones and growth factors regulate the differentiation and growth of cells and tissues in economically-important species.

Growth biology provides the framework for a unique interaction among scientists possessing expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, muscle biology, physiology, and classical animal science. Students have the opportunity for in-depth study in one or more of these areas while obtaining more general information about the others.

lab equipmentResearch funding is obtained from a variety of sources. As with other land-grant universities, partial research funding for many projects is provided by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the USDA. Researchers in Growth Biology of animals at the University of Minnesota have also been successful in obtaining funding from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program. Several of these grants have been obtained jointly by faculty in Growth Biology and this contributes to cooperation among faculty and students in this area of emphasis. Numerous industry gifts, grants, and contracts also contribute to the funding of research projects.