Research Development and Disease My group is interested in understanding the genetic control of mammalian development and how abnormalities in this process lead to diseases. We have been using transgenic and ‘knockout’ mice to elucidate gene function. Our current focus is on the TSPYL family proteins. TSPYL proteins belong to the nucleosome assembly protein family with a putative role in the epigenetic control of gene expression. We have generated Tspyl2 knockout mice and demonstrated a role of TSPYL2 in cell cycle control. In addition, TSPYL2 controls gene expression in neurons. Our group has a long standing interest in elucidating gene function. We have reported the functions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and RET receptor tyrosine kinase. We have revealed a role of EGF in the hair growth cycle, spermatogenesis, bone growth and recently, dopamine metabolism. Abnormal EGF or RET signalling results in cancer. We are now testing whether TSPYL family proteins also have a role during embryonic development and in cancer.