Shah:Research

Shah Lab: How does a cell know ?

Cells are constantly bathed in a nearly infinite number of environmental cues. As observers it can seem to us that they are able to discern specific cues with great sensitivity. But in most cases how cells accomplish this high level of sensitivity in the face of apparent "noise" is poorly understood. And while in many cases we know many of the molecular players we're only now gleaning the systematic arrangement of these parts.

We are interested in how they sense their environment, how they detect their internal state and the quantitative design that allows them to carry it out with high fidelity.

We are studying three central cell biological functions as examples.