Dr. Wilber Escorcia

Dr. Escorcia studies how cells safeguard genomic integrity. His investigation centers on the link between fat metabolism and the response to DNA damage. He uses genetic, molecular biology, and microscopy methods to examine the effects that lipid levels have on mitosis and meiosis. These observations increase our understanding of how obesity and metabolic disease negatively impact human health, particularly in old age.

Dr. Escorcia uses the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to examine the contribution of lipid regulation to sexual reproduction. Disruption to lipid stability in this yeast is associated with reduced proliferation and faulty gamete production. Dr. Escorcia’s research seeks to elucidate the genetic pathways that tie lipid levels to DNA integrity during vegetative growth and to genetic recombination and chromosome segregation following sexual reproduction.

Dr. Escorcia also employs the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans in his work. He uses this animal to examine the physiological effects of lipid changes in response to DNA damage in whole organisms. He aims to reveal how altered lipid metabolism disrupts the response to genotoxic stress during embryogenesis, larval development, reproduction, and aging. Additionally, he seeks to uncover how health and life span are affected by the interaction of genomic and lipid stability pathways following exposure to different environmental stressors.

Dr. Escorcia obtained a B.A. and M.S. in biology from California State University, Northridge. He completed a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining Xavier University, he carried out postdoctoral work at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. He has previously taught at Cal State LA, UCLA, and USC.

Expertise

Molecular Biology , Genetics, Microscopy, Biogerontology