Anatomy and Molecular Embryology

The development of skeletal muscle is a complex process which has been highly conserved in evolution. It involves cell specification, tissue rearrangement and differentiation. We have studied skeletal muscle stem cell (satellite cell) function for many years and have recently focused on the study of bHLH transcription factors (e.g. Atoh8) which have been shown to play a decisive role in skeletal muscle specification during development.  We are modelling skeletal muscle development with chicken embryos, zebrafish, mice and pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, we are coordinating the international ‘Molecular and Development Stem Cell Biology’ master program (iSTEM) at Ruhr University Bochum.