caption doctoral_advisor thesis_year work_institution birth_place citizenship image_size nationality field birth_date thesis_url residence prizes image article_title name alma_mater
ting wu 8-jul-2010 william gelbart 1984 harvard university new haven , ct united states 206px united states genetics , homology effects 24 january 1954 http://search.proquest.com/docview/303374000 brookline , massachusetts national institutes of health director 's pioneer award ting wu 25jul2010.jpg ting wu
 chao-ting wu harvard university
ting wu

chao-ting wu -lrb- born january 24 , 1954 -rrb- is an american molecular biologist .
after training at harvard medical school in genetics with william gelbart , at stanford medical school with david hogness , and in a fellowship at massachusetts general hospital in molecular biology , wu began her independent academic career as an assistant professor in anatomy and cellular biology and then genetics at harvard medical school in 1993 .
after a period as professor of pediatrics in the division of molecular medicine at the boston children 's hospital , she returned to the department of genetics at harvard medical school as a full professor in 2007 .
wu 's research has focused on the role of chromosome behavior gene activity and inheritance , with emphasis on widespread homology effects , phenomena in which homology between chromosomes plays a role .
her studies have explored transvection in genetics , polycomb-group genes , chromatin pairing and remodeling , and the mechanisms of bridging promoter and enhancer elements within and between chromosomes .
she has also studies ultra-conserved elements -lrb- uces -rrb- , proposing that these highly conserved sequences play a role in maintaining genome integrity , and has discussed potential opportunities for therapeutics harnessing properties of uces in many venues , including in tedx and the google-sponsored solve for x program .
wu has made significant contributions in the area of science education in genetics , across many age groups , through work with the smithsonian institution and the national museum of natural history and is founding director of the personal genetics education project , which works through schools , online curricula , teacher training , and producers and writers of the television and movie industry through involvement with the trade-supporting organization hollywood , health & society .
she is daughter of author nelson ikon wu , sister of actor ping wu , and colleague and spouse of harvard and mit scientist george m. church .
