jesse silverman
Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar
Media Profile
"Shell formation is a biomineralisation event, an important process found throughout the animal kingdom, which ultimately gives rise to many structures from seashells to vertebrate and coral skeletons. Despite the importance of biomineralisation in the history of life, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this process."
Jesse Silverman is one of fifteen Americans to be granted a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship to Australia in 2007. Jesse is currently completing his Bachelors of Science majoring in Biology and Philosophy at Duke University. Through his Fulbright Jesse will be a visiting scholar in the School of Integrative Biology at The University of Queensland.
“My research project will characterise the genetic and genomic regulatory processes that are responsible for the shell development of abalone,” explains Jesse. “Through understanding the molecular basis of abalone shell formation we will gain a better evolutionary understanding of the processes involved and may also gain knowledge that will provide useful insights for commercial and biomedical applications.”
“The physical structure of the abalone shell is already well known which will aid in understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms that pattern the shell. Identification and localisation of the important genes in shell structure and development will enable additional experimental manipulations to explore the molecular developmental processes responsible for shell formation. There have already been genes whose roles have been individually understood, but almost nothing known about the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for building the shell.”
Initial work in the Degnan Laboratory has led to the identification and isolation of several candidate genes that may play a role in the development, patterning and calcification of the shell. Preliminary results from their experiments have included mapping the expression of specific genes to specific tissue territories responsible for shell structures and patterns. These findings suggest there is extensive evolutionary innovation associated with shell development.
During his studies Jesse has been recognised on the Duke University Deans List (2003-2006); as a Howard Hughes Summer Scholar (2005) and Howard Hughes Research Fellow (2004); and won Duke University undergraduate research support travel grant to attend conferences to present his work.
When he returns to the U.S. Jesse plans to apply for PhD programs in Evolutionary Biology with a specific focus of working in Evolutionary Developmental Biology.