Bios

Professor of Biology Biology Department Health Professions Advisor Simmons College Boston, Massachusetts

Assistant Biologist Pediatric Service Genetics and Teratology Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, Massachusetts

Education and Appointments:

Associate Professor and Health Professions Advisor, Simmons

Assistant Biologist (Research Appointment), Department of Genetics and Teratology, Pediatric Service, Massachusetts General Hospital

M.S., Ph.D (Developmental Biology), Clark University

B.S. Regis College

Recent Funded Grants:

Establishing a Joint Clinical Research Training Program in the Colleges of the Fenway. Colleges of the Fenway/Davis Foundation Faculty Initiative Faculty Grant Projects [Details and Progress Reports].

Enhancement and Coordination of Premedical Resources in the Colleges of the Fenway. Colleges of the Fenway/Davis Foundation Faculty Initiative Faculty Grant Projects [Details and Progress Reports].

Genetics and Teratology Research - The goal of these current and proposed projects is to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between the embryonic axis and the abnormal limb. We are studying that relationship in a mouse mutant, Dominant hemimelia (Dh), which exhibits both axial defects and hindlimb malformations. Peabody Foundation [Details and Progress Reports].

Research Interests: see Research 

Research interests are in the area of patterning of the vertebrate embryo and limb development. This work is currently focussed on a mouse mutant, Dominant hemimelia, that exhibits hindlimb skeletal malformations similar to those that may be found in human infants. Research work is conducted on campus and at Massachusetts General Hospital. For further descriptions see Mus or DhMouse

Publications (maiden name Wesolowski):

Wesolowski, MH, Lyerla, TA. The developmental appearance of hexokinase and alcohol  dehydrogenase in Xenopus laevis. J. Exp. Zool. 1980; 210:211-219.

Wesolowski, MH, Lyerla, TA. Alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes in the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Biochem. Genet. 1983; 21(9/10):1003-1017.

Sapirstein, VS, Stocchi, P, Wesolowski, M, Gilbert, JM. The characterization and biosynthesis of soluble and membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase in brain. J. Neurochem. 1983; 40(5):1251-1261.

Vishwanatha, JK, Coughlin, SA, Wesolowski-Owen, M, Baril, EF. A multiprotein form of DNA polymerase from Hela cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 1986; 261(14):6619-6628.

Owen, MH, Holmes, LB. Stage and dose dependent effects of all-trans retinoic acid on expression of Dominant hemimelia in mice. Teratology 1998; 57(2):108.

Owen, MH, Holmes, LB. Restricted pattern of expression of tibia hypoplasia and reduced number of vertebrae produced by Dominant hemimelia. Teratology 1998; 57(2):107.

Morin, BJ, Owen, MH, Raumamurthy, GV, Holmes, LB. 1999.  Pattern of skeletal malformations produced by Dominant hemimelia (Dh).  Teratology 60(6):   348-355 (Owen, Corresponding Author)

Teaching: see /Teaching/

Field Courses:

For information on the Tropical Marine Biology course with a ten-day field component on the island of San Salvador, Bahamas.

Please see /bahamas/

This course was offered in Summer Session I, 1996 and 1998.

Tropical communities studied included the fringing, patch and marginal reefs, mangrove ponds, bat caves, cay islands, sea grass beds and rocky intertidal. A course description and photographs of student activities can be found at /bahamas/

General Advising:

For more information about general undergraduate, graduate and alumnae advising see general advising.

Health Professions Advising:

The Health Professions Advisor at Simmons is Dr. Owen who advises undergraduates and alumnae interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary science and allied health careers (physician assistant, genetic counseling, occupational therapy and others). Further information can be found at HPAnet.

Consulting Work:

Proctor and Gamble First Grade Germ Program ('97, '98, '99)