Individual Homepage address
http://toridaimedseitai.web.fc2.com/index.html

Staff

Professor : Takashi Yoshino
Associate professor : Gembu Abe 
Assistant professor : Haruka Matsubara

Features of the Division

The Division of Developmental Biology has three major research focuses. Undergraduate and postgraduate students in the division receive training in one of these research areas.
 
1. Reproductive Biology
We aim to understand how gonads (testes and ovaries) develop during mouse and human embryogenesis and to recapitulate these developmental processes using pluripotent stem cells. To achieve this goal, we investigate the mechanisms regulating mesodermal differentiation and embryonic patterning during early embryogenesis. In addition, we focus on the masculinization process through which the embryonic bipotential gonad develops into a testis. Based on these studies, we aim to reconstruct human testicular organoids to establish novel approaches for the treatment of male infertility and disorders of sex development.

2. Developmental and regenerative biology of vertebrate morphology
We study how vertebrate body structures are generated, regenerated, and diversified during evolution. Using fish models, especially zebrafish, we investigate the developmental mechanisms that control fin formation, skeletal patterning, and regenerative capacity. We also develop zebrafish-based disease models to examine how alterations in developmental processes lead to morphological abnormalities and pathological tissue formation, including abnormal skeletal development. By integrating developmental biology, regeneration biology, and evolutionary biology, our research aims to reveal fundamental mechanisms of organ formation and tissue repair.

3. Newt limb development and regeneration
We focus on the limb development and regeneration of the newt. We use the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl) because it is easily accessible for genetic studies using transgenesis and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Newt limb development has a specific aspect and a conserved pattern formation process across species. We research limb developmental mechanisms, including gene function, morphogenesis, and digit formation, using newts. Furthermore, newts are the only vertebrates with complete limb-regeneration capacity. We also focus on the differences between the regeneration and development processes underlying limb pattern formation. This research can contribute to understanding morphological diversification and to future applications in regenerative medicine of the limb.