Research Interests
Evolutionary Developmental Biology: Molecular
development of vertebrate external genitalia; Evolution of vertebrate
limb development; Developmental genetic mechanisms of vertebrate
skeleton evolution.
Representative Publications
Seifert, A. W., Yamaguchi, T. and Cohn, M. J. (2009). Functional and phylogentic
analysis shows that Fgf8 is not required for external genital development. Development 136:2643-2651
Seifert, A. W., Harfe, B. D. and Cohn, M. J. (2008) Cell lineage analysis
demonstrates an endodermal origin of the distal urethra and perineum. Developmental Biology 318:143-152
Zhang, G. and Cohn, M. J. (2008). Genome duplication and the origin of the vertebrate skeleton. Current
Opinion in Genetics and Development. 18:387-393
Freitas, R., Zhang, G., and Cohn, M. J. (2007). Biphasic
Hoxd Gene Expression in Shark Paired Fins Reveals an Ancient Origin of
the Distal Limb Domain. PLoS One 2(8): e754.
Zhang, G., and Cohn, M. J. (2006). Hagfish and lancelet fibrillar
collagens reveal that type II collagen-based cartilage evolved in stem
vertebrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
USA. 103:16829-33.
Freitas, R., Zhang, G., and Cohn, M. J. (2006). Evidence that
mechanisms of fin development evolved in the midline of early
vertebrates. Nature 442:1033-7.
Zhang, G., Miyamoto, M. M., and Cohn, M. J. (2006). Lamprey type II
collagen and Sox9 reveal an ancient origin of the vertebrate
collagenous skeleton. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences USA. 103: 3180-3185.
Freitas, R., Zhang, G., Albert, J. S., Evans, D. H., and Cohn, M. J.
(2006). Developmental origin of shark electrosensory organs. Evolution
and Development. 8, 74-80.