Biography

David Epel earned his Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley. Using gametes from sea urchins, which are easily fertilized in vitro, his laboratory has provided important insights on how development is initiated at fertilization. Of special interest is the dormant metabolism of the egg, and how the activity of these cells is radically altered in the process of fertilization. Epel's research has shown that the changes that initiate egg development are a transient rise in free calcium and a permanent increase in intracellular pH.. This research has provided one of the most detailed descriptions of a developmental program, has relevance to assisted reproduction technology in humans and even has relevance to improvement of animal cloning.