找到这些基本问题的答案的可能性使分子遗传学和基因组学成为生物学中令人兴奋的领域。分子遗传学和基因组计划的实验室正在使用各种模式生物（包括噬菌体和病毒，细菌，酵母和真菌，线虫，果蝇，植物和小鼠）寻求这些和其他重要问题的答案。使用此类生物体提供了设计和进行详细揭示基本生物学过程的实验的机会。此外，它们还提供了将分子遗传学和基因组学应用于人类生物学和疾病研究的机会。华盛顿大学分子遗传学和基因组计划的实验室一直处于人类分子遗传学和人类基因组计划的前沿。有兴趣研究基本遗传机制的学生，以及希望将这些知识应用于人类生物
The possibility of finding answers to such fundamental questions makes molecular genetics and genomics an exciting field of biology. Laboratories in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program are pursuing answers to these and other important questions using a variety of model organisms including phage and viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungi, nematodes, fruit flies, plants and mice. Use of such organisms provides opportunities to design and carry out experiments that reveal fundamental biological processes in great detail. In addition, they offer the opportunity to apply molecular genetics and genomics to the study of human biology and disease. Laboratories in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program at Washington University have been at the forefront of human molecular genetics and the Human Genome Project. Students interested in studying fundamental genetic mechanisms, as well as those with a desire to apply this knowledge to human biology, will find many laboratories within the Program in which to pursue their doctoral research.