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Thomas Abney
Office Phone: (706) 721-3741
E-mail: TABNEY@MCG.EDU

Appointment Date: January 1970
Appointment Type: Emeritus

Academic Rank(s)
Rank Department Section School
Professor Emeritus Physiology Medicine
Professor Emeritus Graduate Studies Graduate Studies

Education
PHD; 1972; University of Georgia
MS; 1969; University of Georgia
BS; 1966; University of Georgia

Teaching Areas
My graduate course, END 8200, was designed to study the
cellular and molecular events that occur during ligand
binding to plasma membrane receptors and the subsequent
signal transduction pathways that result in cellular
response to hormones and other cell-specific regulators.
The course, which was taught from the current journals,
emphasized a comprehension of the latest methodologies
and techniques that are used in modern molecular biology.
Students gained experience in critically reading and analyzing
scientific papers for experimental design and methodology,
as well as data analysis and significance.

Research Areas
My research interests focused on two main areas of study:
1) Leydig cell development in the rat and 2) SRY gene
expression during fetal sex determination in the mouse.
In both studies we used cellular and molecular techniques
to elucidate the mechanisms involved in regulating gene
expression, cell proliferation and differentiation. We
were specifically interested in the genes that regulate
1) the embryonic appearance of the testes in male
fetuses, thus promoting male sex determination and 2)
the genes that control the development, differentiation
and function of Leydig cells, which produce the male
sex hormone, testosterone. Both studies are related
in that we were investigating the biological factors
that control normal male sex determination and function.

Clinical Interests
My clinical interests were:
a) male sex determination during fetal development,
b) development of the fetal reproductive system,
c) cryptorchidism in neonates, and
d) testicular cancer.

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