Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Genetics
Biology professor Graciela Unguez works with a fluorescence stereomicroscope in her laboratory in Foster Hall. Unguez's current research looks at
the electromotor system of electric fish in an effort to better understand how intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the phenotype expressed by individual cells. (Photo by Darren Phillips)
Research contributing to this area of NMSU strength includes the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded major research instrumentation for genomic sequencing; characterization of plant pathogen genes, as well as drought- and disease-resistance genes in crops and livestock; work of the Southwest Consortium for Plant Genetics and Water Resources; development of molecular markers for improving livestock breeding; and multiple National Institutes of Health funded projects to study the genetic basis of, or protein structure and function in, cell cycle events, organ development, and human-pathogen interaction.
Major Programs
- New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)
PI: Jeffrey Arterburn, (575) 646-2738, jarterbu@nmsu.edu - Minority Access to Research Careers Program
PI: Michael Johnson, (575) 646-3627, johnson@nmsu.edu - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center(FHCRC)-NMSU U54 Partnership for the Advancement of Cancer Research
PI: Mary O'Connell, (575) 646-5172, moconnel@nmsu.edu - Minority Biomedical Research Support-Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
(NMSU Rise to Excellence)
PI: Elba Serrano, (575) 646-5217, serrano@nmsu.edu - Bridges to the Future Program
PI: Barbara Lyons, (575) 646-6702, blyons@nmsu.edu
Major Projects
- CREATIV: Towards Ubiquitous Adoption of Wireless Sensor Networks in Experimental Biology Research
PI: Jay Misra, Computer Science, misra@nmsu.edu (575) 646-6256; Graciela A. Unguez, Biology, gunguez@nmsu.edu (575) 646-7963; Hong Huang, Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, hhuang@nmsu.edu (575) 646-3639) - A New Synergy for Flavivirus Therapy: RNAi Enhancement and Viral Mutagens
PI: Kathryn Hanley, Biology, khanley@nmsu.edu, (575) 646-4583 - Minority Biospecimen/Biobanking Geographic Management Program (BMaP)
PI: Mary O'Connell, Plant and Environmental Science, moconnel@nmsu.edu, (575) 646-5172 - Molecular Mechanisms of Neural-Dependent Muscle Plasticity
PI: Grazela Unguez, gunguez@nmsu.edu, (575) 646-7963 - Selection of Host Specific Genes in an Environmentally Transmitted Mutualism
PI: Michele Nishiguchi, (575) 646-3721, nish@nmsu.edu - Mob1 Localization and Function During Mitosis
PI: Charles Shuster, (575) 646-1325, cshuster@nmsu.edu - Structure and Function of Bacterial RecN Protein
PI: Shelley Lusetti, (575) 646-6016, slusetti@nmsu.edu See description below - Cationic Amino Acid Transport in Mosquitoes
PI: Immo Hansen, (575) 646-7719, immoh@nmsu.edu
Researchers
- Jeffrey Arterburn, Regents Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Kevin Houston, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Shelley Lusetti, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Barbara A. Lyons, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Champa Gopalan, Professor, Plant and Environmental Science
- Mary O'Connell, Regents Professor, Plant and Environmental Science
- William Lindemann, Professor, Plant and Environmental Science
- Elba Serrano, Regents Professor, Biology
- Graciela Unguez, Professor, Biology
Major Units