The Garner lab studies the organization, structure, and dynamics of the prokaryotic cytoplasm. Generally, we are interested in elucidating how small collections of genes are able to impart long range order to cells. Currently, we are using a combination of sub-diffraction imaging, particle tracking, and biochemistry to dissect the mechanistic process of how cells grow and divide. We can observe single molecules of the cell wall synthesis machinery move directionally around the cell circumference, and we are working to understand how these motions create the emergent shape of cells and how they are relate to the control of cell growth.
