Patricia Serpente

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist

I became a research assistant in Alex's lab at its early inception, in September 1997. Over the years it has been really interesting to witness how the lab focus has shifted from Hox gene functions in developmental patterning to growth, physiology and metabolism.

One of my previous projects elucidated the role of homeodomains proteins in cell sorting and rhombomere boundary formation during hindbrain segmentation, with a particular focus on the Hoxb4 gene.

​At present, I am investigating the role of maternal dietary nutrients in growth and metabolism during development, specifically working on organ sparing during nutrient restriction.