Research

The Bosch lab studies the molecular mechanisms controlling pattern (axis) formation and stem cell differentiation in the cnidarian Hydra. Of particular interest to us are function and origin of genes referred to as "novel", "orphan" or "taxonomically restricted". Cnidarians represent a key transition in the evolution of animal complexity, and are therefore critical to understand the origins of developmental mechanisms.

A second important step during metazoan evolution was the development of an immune system. To gain an understanding of the evolution of immunity, we study (i) the innate immune system in Hydra; (ii) the molecular interactions between microbes and host (Hydra) cells that promote normal development and homeostasis, and (iii) the molecules involved in self / nonself recognition in urochordates.

Finally, we recognize evolution as a basic science for medicine. Diseases which affect barrier organs (e.g.skin, intestine) often develop from the interaction between microbes and individual genetic susceptibility. Using a combined bioinformatics and high throughput genomics approach, we investigate the evolution and function of orthologs to human disease genes for barrier dysfunction in Hydra.