Mariana Wolfner

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Mariana Wolfner
Born
Mariana Federica Wolfner
Alma mater
Early embryogenesis
Seminal proteins[1]
InstitutionsCornell University
University of California, San Diego
ThesisEcdysone-responsive genes of the salivary gland of Drosophila melanogaster (1980)
Doctoral advisorDavid Hogness
Websitembg.cornell.edu/people/mariana-wolfner

Mariana Federica Wolfner is the Goldwin Smith Professor of molecular biology and genetics at Cornell University. Her research investigates sexual conflict in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.[1] She was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2019 in recognition of her distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.[2][3]

Early life and education

Wolfner became interested in biology as a child.

cDNA hybridisation to isolate the genes which respond to ecdysone during metamorphosis.[4]

Research and career

Wolfner joined

postdoctoral fellowship under the supervision of Bruce Baker.[4] Here she started to study the genes that are involved in sex determination of Drosophila. With Baker, Wolfner cloned the doublesex gene.[4]

Wolfner joined the faculty at Cornell University in 1983.

mutant phenotypes in seminal fluid proteins.[12]

In her extensive studies of the seminal fluid proteins of Drosophila,[1] Wolfner has uncovered new information about sexual conflict.[4] She showed that seminal fluid proteins that increase the egg-laying rate of females are beneficial for males, but can reduce the lifespan of the female drosophila.[4][13] Apc26Aa is one of the seminal fluid proteins that can cause these postmating changes in female drosophila.[9] She found that seminal fluid proteins can act as switches that activate physiology in the mated females.[14][15][16] Wolfner works with Laura Harrington on the identification of seminal fluid proteins in mosquitoes that are responsible for the transmission of the Zika and dengue viruses.[4][17]

She also works on the

embryogenesis.[17] Wolfner demonstrated that the egg-to-embryo transition is not the same in drosophila and mammals.[4] In drosophila the oocyte is squeezed into the oviduct, whereas in mammals the sperm triggers the transition. She showed that the activation process in drosophila involves a spike of calcium, which triggers downstream pathways.[4]

She was appointed the Goldwin Smith Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics in Cornell University in 2013.[citation needed]

Awards and honours

References

  1. ^ a b c Mariana Wolfner publications indexed by Google Scholar Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b "Two biologists elected to National Academy of Sciences". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  3. ^ "2019 NAS Election". www.nasonline.org.
  4. ^
    PMID 30523164
    .
  5. ^ a b "Mariana Wolfner receives Genetics Society of America Medal". as.cornell.edu. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  6. ^ "FlyTree - David S. Hogness". academictree.org. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  7. ^ "234: Dr. Mariana Wolfner: Egg-cell-ent Research in Reproduction, Fertilization, and Embryonic Development". People Behind the Science Podcast. 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  8. PMID 19706411
    .
  9. ^ a b "Fruit flies go to work on an egg". www.newscientist.com. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  10. PMID 8367469
    .
  11. ^ "Society for Developmental Biology". Society for Developmental Biology. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  12. ^ "NSF Award Search: Award#9753006 - POWRE: Genetic and In Vitro Investigations of Drosophila Reproductive Proteins". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  13. S2CID 4336339
    .
  14. ^ "Mariana Wolfner". Cornell University. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  15. PMID 9090115
    .
  16. PMID 21423647
    .
  17. ^ a b "Mariana Wolfner". Cornell University. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  18. ^ "2006 AAAS Fellows" (PDF). AAAS. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  19. ^ "The Kendall S. Carpenter Advising Award". Cornell University. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  20. ^ "Four faculty members receive Carpenter advising awards 2012". Cornell Chronicle. June 11, 2012. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  21. ^ "The Al Downe Lecture - Queen's Biology Department". biology.queensu.ca. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  22. ^ "Winners of the Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology". Entomological Society of America. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
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