Margaret T. Fuller
Encyclopedia
Margaret "Minx" T. Fuller is a developmental biologist
known for her research on the male
germ line and defining the role of the stem cell
environment (the hub cells that establish the niche of particular cells) in specifying cell fate and differentiation
. Profile, CDB Symposium 2007.
Fuller is the Reed-Hodgson Professor of Human Biology at Stanford University
, and former chair of the Stanford Department of Developmental Biology.
in 1974, and a Ph.D. in microbiology from MIT
in 1980, working with Jonathan King
. She completed her postdoctoral work in developmental genetics at Indiana University
, working with Elizabeth Raff and Thomas Kaufman, from 1980 to 1983, Fuller joined the University of Colorado
faculty and then joined Stanford University
in 1990. where she began working on spermatogenesis
, doing genetic analysis of microtubule
structure and function. Profile, CDB Symposium 2007.
Fuller is married to fellow biologist Matthew P. Scott
.
Developmental biology
Developmental biology is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis", which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy.- Related fields of study...
known for her research on the male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
germ line and defining the role of the stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
environment (the hub cells that establish the niche of particular cells) in specifying cell fate and differentiation
Cellular differentiation
In developmental biology, cellular differentiation is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type. Differentiation occurs numerous times during the development of a multicellular organism as the organism changes from a simple zygote to a complex system of...
. Profile, CDB Symposium 2007.
Fuller is the Reed-Hodgson Professor of Human Biology at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and former chair of the Stanford Department of Developmental Biology.
Biography
Fuller earned a B.A. in physics from Brandeis UniversityBrandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
in 1974, and a Ph.D. in microbiology from MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1980, working with Jonathan King
Jonathan King
Jonathan King is an English singer, songwriter, impresario and record producer. He is also the author of three novels, Bible Two and The Booker Prize Winner , and Beware the Monkey Man , and an autobiography, 65 My Life So Far .King first came to prominence as an...
. She completed her postdoctoral work in developmental genetics at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, working with Elizabeth Raff and Thomas Kaufman, from 1980 to 1983, Fuller joined the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
faculty and then joined Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1990. where she began working on spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is the process by which male primary germ cells undergo division, and produce a number of cells termed spermatogonia, from which the primary spermatocytes are derived. Each primary spermatocyte divides into two secondary spermatocytes, and each secondary spermatocyte into two...
, doing genetic analysis of microtubule
Microtubule
Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton. These rope-like polymers of tubulin can grow as long as 25 micrometers and are highly dynamic. The outer diameter of microtubule is about 25 nm. Microtubules are important for maintaining cell structure, providing platforms for intracellular...
structure and function. Profile, CDB Symposium 2007.
Fuller is married to fellow biologist Matthew P. Scott
Matthew P. Scott
Matthew P. Scott is a developmental biologist and HHMI investigator at Stanford University studying how embryonic and later development is governed by proteins that control gene activity and cell signaling processes....
.
Key papers
- Raff, E.C. and M. T. Fuller, et al., "Regulation of tubulin gene expression during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster", Cell v.28, pp. 33–40 (1982).
- Fuller, M.T. et al., "Genetic Analysis of Microtubule Structure: A b-tubulin Mutation Causes the Formation of Aberrant Microtubule in vivo and in vitro", Journal of Cell Biology, v.104, pp. 385–394 (1987).
- Fuller, M.T. and P.G. Wilson, "Force and Counter Force in the Mitotic Spindle", Cell, v.71, pp. 547–550 (1992).
- Fuller, M.T., "Riding the Polar Winds: Chromosomes Motor Down East," Cell, v.81, pp. 5–8 (1995).
- Hales, K.G., M.T. Fuller, "Developmentally Regulated Mitochondrial Fusion Mediated by a Conserved, Novel, Predicted GTPase", Cell (1997).
- G. J. Hermann, J.W. Thatcher, J.P. Mills, K.G. Hales, M.T. Fuller, "Mitochondrial Fusion in Yeast Requires the Transmembrane GTPase Fzo1p", Journal of Cell Biology (1998).
- Kiger, A., H. White-Cooper, and M.T. fuller, "Somatic support cells restrict germ line stem cell self-renewal and promote differentiation", Nature v.407, pp. 750–754 (2000).
Additional publications
- Margaret T. Fuller and Allan C. SpradlingAllan C. SpradlingAllan C. Spradling is an American scientist and principal investigator at the Carnegie Institution for Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute who studies egg development in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, a fruit fly...
, Review, "Male and Female Drosophila Germline Stem Cells: Two Versions of Immortality", Science, v.316, n.5823, pp. 402–404 (April 20, 2007).
Awards
- 1980 - Jane Coffin Childs Fellow
- 1985-86 - Searle Scholar
- 2004 - Reed-Hodgson Professor, Human Biology, Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
- 2006 - Elected member, American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...