Research in the Michael Lab focuses on understanding genome architecture, and answering the question: what does genome sequence tell us about the biology of an organism? We are interested in both the physical location and definition of genomic elements such as coding and non-coding elements, and the functional aspects of the genome that link genotype to phenotype. We are building bioinformatic and molecular tools for microread (35-50 bp) sequencing technology and sequencing genomes and transcriptomes using the Applied Biosystems SOLiD system. In addition, we are developing web tools and programs to make genomic data useful for researchers. We interrogate functional aspects of the genome by studying time of day specific transcriptional networks, which are highly conserved across organisms bound by the 24 hour light/dark cycle on Earth. We capitalize on the conservation of the circadian clock across species and the power of diurnal/circadian expression profiling to identify transcriptional networks involved in growth and development. We are particularly interested in how specific genome architectures allow organisms to adapt and thrive in their local environment.