Lawrence Grossman, PhD
Director, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Henry L. Brasza Professor of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Professor of Internal Medicine
Bio
We work on mitochondrial molecular genetics. Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles because they have their own DNA and genetic machinery but must cooperate with the nucleus to function. Mitochondria contain about 1500 proteins, most nucleus encoded, and carry out a number of functions, most centrally to provide most of the energy in the cell. So important is proper energy functioning that mitochondria turn out to be responsible for, or to be involved in, a growing array of diseases, including many common late onset diseases such as various peripheral neuropathies, cardiomyopathies, and type II diabetes. We are focusing increasingly on mitochondrial disease mechanisms, including genomic approaches to population disease susceptibilities. We are also interested in the evolutionary emergence of an enlarged neocortex, the most highly oxygen-utilizing tissue.
On The Web
Lawrences at Wayne University: https://www.genetics.wayne.edu/faculty/lawrence-grossman