Martin J Cohn,
Professor
Department:
Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Business Phone:
(352) 273-8099
Business Email:
mjcohn@ufl.edu
About Martin J Cohn
Fun Fact: Following news coverage of a Cohn lab paper on the role of testosterone in sexually dimorphic digit development, the Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared on late-night television wearing giant prosthetic fingers. The Cohn lab studies the molecular mechanisms of external genitalia and limb development. Our overarching goal is to understand how changes during embryonic development lead to anatomical variation in two contexts, structural birth defects and morphological evolution. Our studies of genitalia development use mouse models to investigate genetic and environmental causes of genitourinary malformations, which are among the most common birth defects in humans. We use a variety of techniques, including molecular genetics, experimental embryology, multi-omics, 3-D imaging, and in vitro models. Our studies of sexual differentiation of genitalia have led to new lines of investigation into the causes of sex differences in other organs. Our evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) research aims to understand how mechanisms of embryonic development have evolved over deep time to produce the rich diversity of animal form. These studies use comparative biology to investigate development in a phylogenetic context, which has led us to study embryos from a range of species, including birds (chickens, ducks, emus, ostriches) reptiles (pythons, lizards, turtles, alligators), cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates), jawless fishes (lampreys, hagfishes), and even invertebrates (cuttlefish, horseshoe crabs).
Related Links:
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2013-2014,2016-2019
GMS6001 Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences I
2006,2008-2010,2010-2017,2012-2021,2017-2023,2019-2025,2021-2025
GMS6013 Developmental Genetics
2018
GMS7979 Advanced Research
2018
ZOO7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2006-2009,2017
ZOO6927 Special Topics in Zoology
2007-2008
ZOO3603C Evolu Developme Biol
Research Profile
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)
0000-0002-5211-200X
Publications
Academic Articles
2022
Convergent developmental patterns underlie the repeated evolution of adhesive toe pads among lizards.
Biological journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London.
135(3):518-532
[DOI] 10.1093/biolinnean/blab164.
[PMID] 35185322.
2022
Domestic cat embryos reveal unique transcriptomes of developing incisor, canine, and premolar teeth.
Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution.
338(8):516-531
[DOI] 10.1002/jez.b.23168.
[PMID] 35816012.
2021
Anomalous incisor morphology indicates tissue-specific roles for Tfap2a and Tfap2b in tooth development.
Developmental biology.
472:67-74
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.12.017.
[PMID] 33460639.
2021
Single cell transcriptomic analysis of external genitalia reveals complex and sexually dimorphic cell populations in the early genital tubercle.
Developmental biology.
477:145-154
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.05.014.
[PMID] 34033822.
2021
Spatial regulation by multiple Gremlin1 enhancers provides digit development with cis-regulatory robustness and evolutionary plasticity.
Nature communications.
12(1)
[DOI] 10.1038/s41467-021-25810-1.
[PMID] 34548488.
2020
Foxa1 and Foxa2 orchestrate development of the urethral tube and division of the embryonic cloaca through an autoregulatory loop with Shh.
Developmental biology.
465(1):23-30
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.06.009.
[PMID] 32645357.
2020
GLI3 resides at the intersection of hedgehog and androgen action to promote male sex differentiation.
PLoS genetics.
16(6)
[DOI] 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008810.
[PMID] 32497091.
2020
Meeting report on the NIDDK/AUA Workshop on Congenital Anomalies of External Genitalia: challenges and opportunities for translational research.
Journal of pediatric urology.
16(6):791-804
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jpurol.2020.09.012.
[PMID] 33097421.
2019
Evolution of limb development in cephalopod mollusks.
eLife.
8
[DOI] 10.7554/eLife.43828.
[PMID] 31210127.
2019
Molecular ontogeny of the stomach in the catshark Scyliorhinus canicula.
Scientific reports.
9(1)
[DOI] 10.1038/s41598-018-36413-0.
[PMID] 30679499.
2018
Cartilaginous Fishes Provide Insights into the Origin, Diversification, and Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Vertebrate Estrogen Receptor Genes.
Molecular biology and evolution.
35(11):2695-2701
[DOI] 10.1093/molbev/msy165.
[PMID] 30204906.
2018
Developmental, genetic, and genomic insights into the evolutionary loss of limbs in snakes.
Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000).
56(1)
[DOI] 10.1002/dvg.23077.
[PMID] 29095557.
2016
Loss and Re-emergence of Legs in Snakes by Modular Evolution of Sonic hedgehog and HOXD Enhancers.
Current biology : CB.
26(21):2966-2973
[DOI] 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.020.
[PMID] 27773569.
2016
Molecular Characterization of the Genital Organizer: Gene Expression Profile of the Mouse Urethral Plate Epithelium.
The Journal of urology.
196(4):1295-302
[DOI] 10.1016/j.juro.2016.04.091.
[PMID] 27173853.
2016
Oct4 Is a Key Regulator of Vertebrate Trunk Length Diversity.
Developmental cell.
38(3):262-74
[DOI] 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.06.021.
[PMID] 27453501.
2016
Spatiotemporal dynamics of androgen signaling underlie sexual differentiation and congenital malformations of the urethra and vagina.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
113(47):E7510-E7517
[PMID] 27821748.
2016
The genetic program for cartilage development has deep homology within Bilateria.
Nature.
533(7601):86-9
[DOI] 10.1038/nature17398.
[PMID] 27111511.
2015
A conserved genetic mechanism specifies deutocerebral appendage identity in insects and arachnids.
Proceedings. Biological sciences.
282(1808)
[DOI] 10.1098/rspb.2015.0698.
[PMID] 25948691.
2015
An illustrated anatomical ontology of the developing mouse lower urogenital tract.
Development (Cambridge, England).
142(10):1893-908
[DOI] 10.1242/dev.117903.
[PMID] 25968320.
2015
Development of avian external genitalia: interspecific differences and sexual differentiation of the male and female phallus.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
9(1):43-52
[DOI] 10.1159/000364927.
[PMID] 25011524.
2015
Development of Chondrichthyan Claspers and the Evolution of Copulatory Organs
Integrative and Comparative Biology.
55(1)
2015
Development of hemipenes in the ball python snake Python regius.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
9(1):6-20
[DOI] 10.1159/000363758.
[PMID] 24970309.
2015
Development of the cloaca, hemipenes, and hemiclitores in the green anole, Anolis carolinensis.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
9(1):21-33
[DOI] 10.1159/000363757.
[PMID] 24960313.
2015
Molecular development of chondrichthyan claspers and the evolution of copulatory organs.
Nature communications.
6
[DOI] 10.1038/ncomms7698.
[PMID] 25868783.
2015
Morphogenesis and patterning of the phallus and cloaca in the American alligator, alligator mississippiensis.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
9(1):53-67
[DOI] 10.1159/000364817.
[PMID] 24993090.
2015
Phallus development in the turtle Trachemys scripta.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
9(1):34-42
[DOI] 10.1159/000363631.
[PMID] 24969757.
2015
Resurrecting embryos of the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus, to resolve vertebrate phallus evolution.
Biology letters.
11(10)
[DOI] 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0694.
[PMID] 26510679.
2015
Timing of androgen receptor disruption and estrogen exposure underlies a spectrum of congenital penile anomalies.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
112(52):E7194-203
[DOI] 10.1073/pnas.1515981112.
[PMID] 26598695.
2015
Tissue-specific roles of Fgfr2 in development of the external genitalia.
Development (Cambridge, England).
142(12):2203-12
[DOI] 10.1242/dev.119891.
[PMID] 26081573.
2014
Embryonic origin and compartmental organization of the external genitalia.
Scientific reports.
4
[DOI] 10.1038/srep06896.
[PMID] 25372631.
2014
Evolution of external genitalia: insights from reptilian development.
Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation.
8(5):311-26
[DOI] 10.1159/000365771.
[PMID] 25115961.
2014
Genetic and Environmental Regulation of External Genital Development
Birth Defects Research Part A-Clinical and Molecular Teratology.
100(5, SI)
2013
Developmental basis of phallus reduction during bird evolution.
Current biology : CB.
23(12):1065-74
[DOI] 10.1016/j.cub.2013.04.062.
[PMID] 23746636.
2011
Deep Conservation of the Genetic Program for Cartilage Development: the Mechanism of Invertebrate Chondrogenesis
Developmental Biology.
356(1)
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.544.
2011
Development of the external genitalia: conserved and divergent mechanisms of appendage patterning.
Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists.
240(5):1108-15
[DOI] 10.1002/dvdy.22631.
[PMID] 21465625.
2011
Developmental Basis of Sexually Dimorphic Digit Proportions (2D:4D Ratio)
Developmental Biology.
356(1)
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.635.
2011
Developmental basis of sexually dimorphic digit ratios.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
108(39):16289-94
[DOI] 10.1073/pnas.1108312108.
[PMID] 21896736.
2011
How the Chicken Lost Its Penis: Developmental Basis of External Genital Reduction in Birds
Developmental Biology.
356(1)
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.562.
2010
Sonic hedgehog controls growth of external genitalia by regulating cell cycle kinetics.
Nature communications.
1(3)
[DOI] 10.1038/ncomms1020.
[PMID] 20975695.
2009
Cell Lineage Analysis Demonstrates An Endodermal Origin of the Distal Urethra and Perineum Comment
Journal of Urology.
181
2009
Chapter 2. Evolution of vertebrate cartilage development.
Current topics in developmental biology.
86:15-42
[DOI] 10.1016/S0070-2153(09)01002-3.
[PMID] 19361688.
2009
Functional and Phylogenetic Analysis Fgf8 Shows That Fgf8 Is Not Involved in External Genital Development
Developmental Biology.
331(2):389-498
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.419.
2009
Functional and phylogenetic analysis shows that Fgf8 is a marker of genital induction in mammals but is not required for external genital development.
Development (Cambridge, England).
136(15):2643-51
[DOI] 10.1242/dev.036830.
[PMID] 19592577.
2009
Molecular Identification of a Sclerotome in Lampreys and Sharks: Implications for the Origin of the Vertebral Column
Integrative and Comparative Biology.
49
2009
Multiphasic and tissue-specific roles of sonic hedgehog in cloacal septation and external genitalia development.
Development (Cambridge, England).
136(23):3949-57
[DOI] 10.1242/dev.042291.
[PMID] 19906862.
2008
Cell lineage analysis demonstrates an endodermal origin of the distal urethra and perineum.
Developmental biology.
318(1):143-52
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.03.017.
[PMID] 18439576.
2008
Genome duplication and the origin of the vertebrate skeleton.
Current opinion in genetics & development.
18(4):387-93
[DOI] 10.1016/j.gde.2008.07.009.
[PMID] 18721879.
2008
Identification of nucleus pulposus precursor cells and notochordal remnants in the mouse: implications for disk degeneration and chordoma formation.
Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists.
237(12):3953-8
[DOI] 10.1002/dvdy.21805.
[PMID] 19035356.
2008
Patterns of correlation and covariation of anthropoid distal forelimb segments correspond to Hoxd expression territories.
Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution.
310(3):240-58
[PMID] 18080316.
2007
Biphasic Hoxd gene expression in shark paired fins reveals an ancient origin of the distal limb domain.
PloS one.
2(8)
[PMID] 17710153.
2007
Essential role for Co-chaperone Fkbp52 but not Fkbp51 in androgen receptor-mediated signaling and physiology.
The Journal of biological chemistry.
282(7):5026-5036
[DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M609360200.
[PMID] 17142810.
2006
Developmental basis for hind-limb loss in dolphins and origin of the cetacean bodyplan.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
103(22):8414-8
[PMID] 16717186.
2006
Developmental origin of shark electrosensory organs.
Evolution & development.
8(1):74-80
[PMID] 16409384.
2006
Evidence that mechanisms of fin development evolved in the midline of early vertebrates.
Nature.
442(7106):1033-7
[PMID] 16878142.
2006
Genomic regulation of Hox collinearity.
Developmental cell.
10(1):8-9
[PMID] 16399073.
2006
Hagfish and lancelet fibrillar collagens reveal that type II collagen-based cartilage evolved in stem vertebrates.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
103(45):16829-33
[PMID] 17077149.
2006
Lamprey type II collagen and Sox9 reveal an ancient origin of the vertebrate collagenous skeleton.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
103(9):3180-5
[PMID] 16492784.
2005
Development of the mammalian urethra is controlled by Fgfr2-IIIb.
Development (Cambridge, England).
132(10):2441-50
[PMID] 15843416.
2004
Analysis of EphA4 in the lesser spotted catshark identifies a primitive gnathostome expression pattern and reveals co-option during evolution of shark-specific morphology.
Development genes and evolution.
214(9):466-72
[PMID] 15300436.
2004
Developmental genetics of the external genitalia.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology.
545:149-57
[PMID] 15086025.
2002
An orphan PRD class homeobox gene expressed in mouse brain and limb development.
Development genes and evolution.
212(6):293-7
[PMID] 12111214.
2002
Branching, segmentation and the metapterygial axis: pattern versus process in the vertebrate limb.
BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology.
24(5):460-5
[PMID] 12001269.
2002
Evolutionary biology: lamprey Hox genes and the origin of jaws.
Nature.
416(6879):386-7
[PMID] 11919618.
2002
Sonic hedgehog signaling from the urethral epithelium controls external genital development.
Developmental biology.
247(1):26-46
[PMID] 12074550.
2001
Developmental mechanisms of vertebrate limb evolution.
Novartis Foundation symposium.
232:47-57; discussion 57
[PMID] 11277086.
2000
Developmental biology. Giving limbs a hand.
Nature.
406(6799):953-4
[PMID] 10984039.
2000
Distribution of polarizing activity and potential for limb formation in mouse and chick embryos and possible relationships to polydactyly.
Development (Cambridge, England).
127(18):4011-21
[PMID] 10952899.
2000
FGF and genes encoding transcription factors in early limb specification.
Mechanisms of development.
93(1-2):41-8
[PMID] 10781938.
1999
Developmental basis of limblessness and axial patterning in snakes.
Nature.
399(6735):474-9
[PMID] 10365960.
1999
Molecular control of vertebrate limb development, evolution and congenital malformations.
Cell and tissue research.
296(1):3-17
[PMID] 10199960.
1999
Morphological analysis of the mammalian postcranium: a developmental perspective.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
96(23):13247-52
[PMID] 10557306.
1997
Hox9 genes and vertebrate limb specification.
Nature.
387(6628):97-101
[PMID] 9139829.
1996
Limbs: a model for pattern formation within the vertebrate body plan.
Trends in genetics : TIG.
12(7):253-7
[PMID] 8763496.
1995
Fibroblast growth factors induce additional limb development from the flank of chick embryos.
Cell.
80(5):739-46
[PMID] 7889567.
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 273-8099
Emails:
- Business:
- mjcohn@ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR GENETICS AND MICROBI
GAINESVILLE FL 326100001 - Business Street:
-
PO Box 118525
Department of Biology
GAINESVILLE FL 32611