CDK regulation of the meiotic nuclear biology

A key feature of meiosis, the cellular program that generates gametes, is the recombination between homologous chromosomes (maternal and paternal) that, in addition to generate genetic diversity, facilitates accurate chromosome segregation. Defects in chromosome segregation during meiosis cause miscarriages, infertility and genetic diseases, and reveal the importance of understanding the meiotic recombination process. Our laboratory is interested in how this particular recombination is regulated. To this aim we are using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, since this organism is a proven model system for different eukaryotic conserved processes. The molecular and cellular knowledge of how the normal process is regulated will contribute to understand its de-regulation in pathological situations, which will impact on Biomedicine and Public Health.