Charles R. Long

Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station Texas 77843

I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology at Texas A&M University. I have conducted research on the physiology of gametes and early embryos for over 20 years in both private industry and government laboratories. These studied have varied from nuclear reprogramming in cloned embryos, in vitro fertilization systems using sex sorted sperm, embryo cryobiology, cytoskeletal and nuclear abnormalities of in vitro produced livestock embryos as well as microtubule nucleating components of sperm during zygotic development. My more recent research interests have primarily focused on the utilization of RNAi for altering gene expression of both endogenous and exogenous genes in livestock species. My laboratory is currently investigating the role of histone and DNA methyltransferase genes in the control of epigenetic reprogramming during early bovine embryonic development. I maintain active collaborative research projects with Dr. Michael Golding, Dr. Mark Westhusin and Dr. Duane Kraemer at Texas A&M University investigating novel transgenic approaches to enhance of meat production in livestock as well as utilizing RNAi to convey disease resistance to a number of economically important livestock and human diseases.