Nancy L. Craig, Ph.D.
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Personal Webpage: http://www.bs.jhmi.edu/mbg/craiglab/welcome.html

Dr. Craig's research interests have long focused on understanding transposable elements, i.e. segments of mobile DNA, at the molecular level. Transposable elements have major effects on shaping chromosome structure and function in all organisms and are also major constituents of many genomes. For example, at least 45% of the human genome is composed of sequences related to transposable elements. One aspect of her current research involves study of an insect transposable element related to the element that Dr. Barbara McClintock identified when she discovered transposable elements. Another aspect of Dr. Craig's research involves study of a bacterial element that carries several antibiotic resistance determinants; the mobility of such elements contributes to the rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance through bacterial populations. Interestingly, the movement of this bacterial element is also mechanistically related to the integration of the HIV virus. Her research uses genetic, biochemical and structural approaches to understand the protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions and the DNA breakage and joining reactions that underlie the movement of these elements.

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