Teeth grow in specified places within the vertebrate body plan due to signaling interactions between multiple cell types. By manipulating different signaling pathways, we can alter the location of teeth in model fishes. Understanding the genetic response mechanisms downstream of important signaling events allows us to determine how tooth fields become specified at different morphological locations.

The eventual size of a given bone is ultimately controlled by the activation and arrest of mineralization dynamics at the edge of a given skeletal element. By manipulating gene expression through gain- and loss-of-function methods, we can test how different genes affect the process of bone growth.

Epithelial organs like teeth, hair, and scales, share an intriguing number of genetic inputs and signaling cues. We use genetic manipulations to test whether different epithelial organs use shared signaling pathways during regenerative processes.