Shirley Wright

• Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1981
• M.S., 1983
• B.S., Loyola University, Chicago

Dr. Shirley Wright was an associate professor of biology and taught courses for the Premedical Programs, as well.

Research was directed toward understanding cell motility and the nuclear and cytoskeletal aspects of fertilization. Pronuclear development is a pivotal period during fertilization, because the successful genetic reactivation of the dormant sperm nucleus and maternal chromatin by egg cytoplasm is essential for bipartental embryonic development.

One project of the lab is to use an in vitro nuclear system to elucidate the factors regulating male pronuclear development at the cellular and molecular levels. Another area of research analyzes the role of the cytoskeleton in the fertilization process. These projects utilize fluorescence microscopy, video microscopy, and biochemical techniques. The object of these investigations is to gain an understanding of the nucleocytoplasmic interactions in cells.