Laboratory of Developmental Biology (The Oonuma Lab.), Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Academic Assembly, Shimane University

Welcome to the Oonuma laboratory!

All the complex structures in our bodies—such as the nervous system, muscles, and internal organs—are derived from just a single fertilized egg. Our laboratory studies the mystery of how the brain and nervous system are formed, using two animal models: the ascidian (sea squirt, tunicate) and the freshwater snail.

The nervous system of ascidians consists of only a few hundred cells, suggesting it is very simple, yet it develops in a way remarkably similar to that of vertebrates, including humans. Freshwater snails also have relatively few nerve cells, but their nervous systems are left-right asymmetric in shape and capable of controlling complex behaviors.

By studying these “simple” animals, we aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of  the brain and the nervous system, and to identify both the shared principles and the diversity of these mechanisms across species.

If you are interested in our research or would like to visit our laboratory, please feel free to contact us at:

koonuma[at]life.shimane-u.ac.jp