David Weisblat

David Weisblat is a Professor of the Graduate School in the Department of BIO at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on molecular phylogenies, particularly the classification of bilaterally symmetric animals into three major groups: Deuterostomia, Edysozoa, and Lophotrochozoa. He studies developmental processes in leeches, which are members of the Lophotrochozoa, to understand how changes in developmental mechanisms have led to diverse body plans. His lab investigates the molecular control of stem cell divisions and intercellular signaling pathways in early embryonic development. Weisblat's work includes the creation of genomic resources for the leech Helobdella, such as a database of ESTs, which supports comparative bioinformatics and developmental studies.

David A. Weisblat is a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on development, evolution, and neurobiology, with a particular emphasis on the leech. His work explores the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying developmental processes, including cell lineage, segmentation, and neurogenesis in the leech Helobdella triserialis. Weisblat's research integrates molecular, cellular, and developmental approaches to understand evolutionary dynamics, such as the role of genes like nanos and hedgehog in germ cell development and gut formation. His studies contribute to broader questions about bilaterian evolution and the genetic basis of neural development in invertebrates.