My group focuses on the generation of variability in disease phenotypes as well as the signaling interactions and cellular behaviors that drive integration and morphogenesis of the vertebrate head. My lab maintains a strong focus on signaling interactions and how they alter cellular behaviors driving craniofacial development. We also examine how different cell types interact to generate a cohesive craniofacial complex. A large portion of the lab examines how the environment influences development. A current focus explores gene-environment interactions that underlie facial, neural and behavioral phenotypes observed in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In all of our analyses we use genetic, transgenic and bioinformatic approaches in zebrafish embryos.