The Handel laboratory investigates the genetic regulation of meiosis and spermatogenesis and male fertility. Meiosis is the specialized cell division, unique to germ cells, that reduces the number of chromosome sets from two (diploid) to one(haploid), thus producing the egg and sperm gametes that come together during sexual reproduction. Appropriate dynamics and behavior of chromosomes during meiosis are essential to genetic integrity and reproductive success. Our investigations focus on factors extrinsic and intrinsic to meiotic chromosomes that establish meiotic chromosome structural transitions in both male and female germ cells and identify sexually dimorphic events. From our endeavors, significant new information is emerging about how germ cells program meiotic events, and ultimately this will help us understand how errors in meiotic mechanisms lead to aneuploidy, or inappropriate chromosome number, producing developmental abnormalities in offspring.
