The Growth Biology Group in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota consists of six individuals who's research interests center around elucidating the mechanisms by which hormones and growth factors regulate the differentiation and growth of cells and tissues in economically-important species. The Growth Biology Group provides the framework for a unique interaction among scientists possessing expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, muscle biology, physiology, and classical animal science. Graduate students are thus provided with an opportunity for in-depth study in one or more of these areas while obtaining more general information about the others.
Research funding is obtained from a variety of sources.
As with other Land Grant Universities, partial research funding for many projects is provided by the Cooperative States Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Additionally, researchers in the Growth Biology Group have been successful in obtaining funding from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program . Several of these grants have been obtained jointly by members of the Growth Biology Group and this contributes to cooperation among group members. Numerous industry gifts, grants, and contracts also contribute to the funding of several research projects. The members of the group are listed below.