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Professor
201D McCord
2640 Morgan Circle
Knoxville, TN 37996-4588
(865) 974-7255
Fax: (865) 974-7297
Email: jgodkin@utk.edu
Research Appointment: 80%
Teaching Appointment: 20%
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EDUCATION and TRAINING
B.S. in Animal Science, University of Massachusetts
M.S. in Reproductive Physiology, University of Massachusetts
Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology, University of Massachusetts
Post Doc. in Biochemistry, University of Florida
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Overpopulation may be the most challenging problem that the world
will face in the 21st century. Feeding an increasing world population
is another difficult problem associated with the population explosion.
Famine suffered by people in eastern Africa and the ecological destruction
of rain forests in South Africa and elsewhere are, in part, the
result of overpopulation and emphasize that this situation is in
crisis.
Research in reproduction is a means for scientists to help limit
over population by developing safe, effective methods of contraception
and increase the supply of food animals through improvement of livestock
reproductive efficiency. The research performed in my laboratory
focuses on the process of ovarian follicular and oocyte development
which produces an egg competent for fertilization, development and
growth of the embryo and the fetal-maternal interactions involved
in the maintenance of pregnancy. I am interested in identifying
and determining the mechanism of action of the proteins that mediate
and modify these important functions. Currently, my research focuses
on the action of several families of proteins. These include: interferons,
growth factors and retinoid (vitamin A)-associated proteins. From
this work it was discovered that an unique placental interferon
is the signal that initiates the maintenance of pregnancy in ruminants.
Recent work indicates that the above proteins may be interactive
in orchestrating several important reproductive functions. The discovery
of proteins that function in the production of embryos and the maintenance
of pregnancy are research pathways that will lead to a means of
improving reproductive efficiency and developing new methods of
contraception.
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