My laboratory is focused on understanding the subcellular morphogenetic transformations required for cell division. Specifically, we are using the early embryo of the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system because of the advantages it offers for the molecular analysis of mitosis. In other metazoans, it is difficult to examine the sub-cellular phenotypes resulting from the depletion of essential gene products. In contrast, RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) in C. elegans makes it feasible to analyze the first mitotic division of an embryo depleted of any targeted gene product. We are combining RNAi-based functional genomics with single-cell high resolution microscopy assays and biochemical characterization of native protein complexes to study three aspects of cell division: (1) Centrosome duplication and maturation, (2) Assembly of the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis, and (3) Specification and assembly of kinetochores.