Dr Caroline Beck

Dr Caroline Beck BSc (Hons), PhD

Dr Caroline Beck is a developmental biologist in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago.

She is interested in understanding the complex gene regulation required to “build” an animal from a single cell. Caroline's research lab has a particular interest in the development of organs, such as the vertebrate limb and eye, and the ability of some vertebrates to regenerate these organs. The work relies heavily on model animals to reveal how complex structures are built and – in the case of regeneration after injury – rebuilt. While most of the work uses amphibian models, such as Xenopus laevis (clawed frogs), the zebrafish fin is also used for complementary studies on regeneration.

Caroline gained a BSc (Hons) in Medical Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham and a PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick, before undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Bath. She has been at Otago since 2004.

Further information

Further information about Caroline is available on the Department of Zoology website

Publications

Chapman, P. A., Hudson, D., Morgan, X. C., & Beck, C. W. (2024). The role of family and environment in determining the skin bacterial communities of captive aquatic frogs, Xenopus laevis. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, fiae131. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiae131 Journal - Research Article

Banerjee, S., Szyszka, P., & Beck, C. W. (2024). Knockdown of NeuroD2 leads to seizure-like behaviour, brain neuronal hyperactivity and a leaky blood-brain barrier in a Xenopus laevis tadpole model of DEE75. Genetics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyae085 Journal - Research Article

Murillo, J., Campbell-Thompson, E., Bishop, T. F., Beck, C. W., & Spencer, H. G. (2023). Report of bilateral gynandromorphy in a Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) from Colombia. Journal of Field Ornithology, 94(4), 12. doi: 10.5751/JFO-00392-940412 Journal - Research Other

Panthi, S., Chapman, P. A., Szyszka, P., & Beck, C. W. (2023). Characterisation and automated quantification of induced seizure-related behaviours in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Journal of Neurochemistry, 15836. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15836 Journal - Research Article

Hudson, D. T., Bromell, J. S., Day, R. C., McInnes, T., Ward, J. M., & Beck, C. W. (2022). Gene expression analysis of the Xenopus laevis early limb bud proximodistal axis. Developmental Dynamics, 251, 1880-1896. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.517 Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2022

Journal - Research Article

Karunaraj, P., Tidswell, O., Duncan, E. J., Lovegrove, M. R., Jefferies, G., Johnson, T. K., Beck, C. W., & Dearden, P. K. (2022). Noggin proteins are multifunctional extracellular regulators of cell signaling. Genetics, 221(1), iyac049. doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyac049

Chapman, P. A., Gilbert, C. B., Devine, T. J., Hudson, D. T., Ward, J., Morgan, X. C., & Beck, C. W. (2022). Manipulating the microbiome alters regenerative outcomes in Xenopus laevis tadpoles via lipopolysaccharide signalling. Wound Repair & Regeneration, 30, 636-651. doi: 10.1111/wrr.13003

2021

Journal - Research Article

Bishop, T. F., & Beck, C. W. (2021). Bacterial lipopolysaccharides can initiate regeneration of the Xenopus tadpole tail. iScience, 24, 103281. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103281

Journal - Research Other

Hudson, D. T., Chapman, P. A., Day, R. C., Morgan, X. C., & Beck, C. W. (2021). Complete genome sequences of Kinneretia sp. strain XES5, Shinella sp. strain XGS7, and Vogesella sp. strain XCS3, isolated from Xenopus laevis skin. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 10(50), e01050-21. doi: 10.1128/mra.01050-21

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mulligan, M. R., Jenkins, D. E., Damsteegt, E., Beck, C., & Bicknell, L. S. (2021). The developmental effects of disrupting DONSON: A gene involved in genetic microcephaly. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1537), (pp. 115). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2019

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Banerjee, S., Damsteegt, E., Szyszka, P., & Beck, C. (2019). Using Xenous laevis tadpole as a model for testing anti-inflammatory drugs as treatment for intractable epilepsy. Proceedings of the 16th Asian Conference on Transcription. (pp. 65-66). Retrieved from https://act2019.p.events4you.currinda.com/days/2019-12-02

2018

Chapter in Book - Research

Beck, C. (2018). Recovering what was lost: Can morphogens scale to enable regeneration? In D. M. Gardiner (Ed.), Regenerative engineering and developmental biology: Principles and applications. (pp. 207-227). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Devine, T., Bishop, T., Morgan, X., & Beck, C. (2018, December). Organ-altering microbes: The role of the microbiome in the regeneration of Xenopus laevis tadpole tails. Verbal presentation at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Taylor, A., Beck, C., & Bicknell, L. (2017). Modelling rare disease in Xenopus laevis using CRISPR/Cas9. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA) with the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB). 689. Retrieved from http://gen2017.w.events4you.currinda.com

Jones, M., Beck, C., & Hore, T. (2017). The role of DNA hypomethylation in Zebrafish cell reprogramming during tail fin regeneration. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 40-41). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html

2016

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, S. R., & Beck, C. W. (2016). Xenopus limb bud morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics, 245(3), 233-243. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.24351

Journal - Research Other

Beck, C. W. (2016). Manipulating carbohydrate metabolism to enhance regeneration. BioEssays, 38(12), 1192. doi: 10.1002/bies.201600196

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Dearden, P. K., Duncan, E., Tidswell, O., & Beck, C. (2016). Linking Noggin and terminal patterning. Proceedings of the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED) 6th Meeting. (pp. 100). Retrieved from http://evodevo.eu/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Beck, C. W., & Bishop, T. (2016, August-September). Understanding how regeneration is regulated in a vertebrate model: The clawed frog Xenopus. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Wang, Y.-H., Keenan, S. R., Lynn, J., McEwan, J. C., & Beck, C. W. (2015). Gremlin1 induces anterior–posterior limb bifurcations in developing Xenopus limbs but does not enhance limb regeneration. Mechanisms of Development, 138, 256-267. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2015.10.003

Wang, Y.-H., & Beck, C. (2015). Distinct patterns of endosulfatase genes expression during Xenopus laevis limb development and regeneration. Regeneration, 2(1), 19-25. doi: 10.1002/reg2.27

Beck, C. W. (2015). Development of the vertebrate tailbud. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Developmental Biology, 4(1), 33-44. doi: 10.1002/wdev.163

2014

Journal - Research Article

Wang, Y.-H., & Beck, C. W. (2014). Distal expression of sprouty (spry) genes during Xenopus laevis limb development and regeneration. Gene Expression Patterns, 15(1), 61-66. doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2014.04.004

2013

Journal - Research Article

Jones, T. E. M., Day, R. C., & Beck, C. W. (2013). Attenuation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling during amphibian limb development results in the generation of stage-specific defects. Journal of Anatomy, 223(5), 474-488. doi: 10.1111/joa.12098

Pietak, A., Ma, S., Beck, C. W., & Stringer, M. D. (2013). Fundamental ratios and logarithmic periodicity in human limb bones. Journal of Anatomy, 222(5), 526-537. doi: 10.1111/joa.12041

2012

Chapter in Book - Research

Beck, C. W. (2012). Studying regeneration in Xenopus. In S. Hoppler & P. D. Vize (Eds.), Xenopus protocols: Post-genomic approaches: Methods in molecular biology (Vol. 917). (pp. 525-539). New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-992-1_30

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, A. J., & Beck, C. W. (2012). Histone deacetylases are required for amphibian tail and limb regeneration but not development. Mechanisms of Development, 129(9-12), 208-218. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2012.08.001

2011

Journal - Research Article

Day, R. C., & Beck, C. W. (2011). Transdifferentiation from cornea to lens in Xenopus laevis depends on BMP signalling and involves upregulation of Wnt signalling. BMC Developmental Biology, 11, 54. doi: 10.1186/1471-213x-11-54

McEwan, J., Lynch, J., & Beck, C. W. (2011). Expression of key retinoic acid modulating genes suggests active regulation during development and regeneration of the amphibian limb. Developmental Dynamics, 240(5), 1259-1270. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.22555

Lynch, J., McEwan, J., & Beck, C. W. (2011). Analysis of the expression of retinoic acid metabolising genes during Xenopus laevis organogenesis. Gene Expression Patterns, 11(1-2), 112-117. doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2010.10.003

2009

Journal - Research Article

Malloch, E. L., Perry, K. J., Fukui, L., Johnson, V. R., Wever, J., Beck, C. W., … Henry, J. J. (2009). Gene expression profiles of lens regeneration and development in Xenopus laevis. Developmental Dynamics, 238(9), 2340-2356. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21998

Beck, C. W., Izpisúa Belmonte, J. C., & Christen, B. (2009). Beyond early development: Xenopus as an emerging model for the study of regenerative mechanisms. Developmental Dynamics, 238(6), 1226-1248. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21890

Barker, D. M., & Beck, C. W. (2009). Overexpression of the transcription factor msx1 is insufficient to drive complete regeneration of refractory stage Xenopus laevis hindlimbs. Developmental Dynamics, 238(6), 1366-1378. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21923

2008

Journal - Research Article

Pearl, E. J., Barker, D., Day, R. C., & Beck, C. W. (2008). Identification of genes associated with regenerative success of Xenopus laevis hindlimbs. BMC Developmental Biology, 8, 66. doi: 10.1186/1471-213X-8-66

2007

Journal - Research Article

Jarikji, Z. H., Vanamala, S., Beck, C. W., Wright, C. V. E., Leach, S. T., & Horb, M. E. (2007). Differential ability of Ptf1a and Ptf1a-VP16 to convert stomach, duodenum and liver to pancreas. Developmental Biology, 304, 786-799.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Beck, C. W., Christen, B., Barker, D., & Slack, J. M. W. (2006). Temporal requirement for bone morphogenetic proteins in regeneration of the tail and limb of Xenopus tadpoles. Mechanisms of Development, 123, 674-688.

2005

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Beck, C. W., & Miles, L. (2005). Pleiotropic actions of BMP signalling in Xenopus laevis development. Mechanisms of Development. 122, (pp. S165-S166). [Abstract]

2004

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Slack, J. M. W., Beck, C. W., Gargioli, C., & Christen, B. (2004). Cellular and molecular mechanisms of regeneration in Xenopus. In B. Heap (Ed.), Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences. 359(1445), (pp. 745-751). London: The Royal Society. [Full Paper]

2003

Journal - Research Article

Avaron, F., Thaeron-Antono, C., Beck, C., Borday-Birraux, V., Geraudie, J., Casane, D., & Laurenti, P. (2003). Comparison of even-skipped related gene expression pattern in vertebrates shows an association between expression domain loss and modification of selective constraints on sequences. Evolution & Development, 5(2), 145-156.

Christen, B., Beck, C., Lombardo, A., & Slack, J. M. W. (2003). Regeneration-specific expression pattern of three posterior hox genes. Developmental Dynamics, 226, 349-355.

Beck, C., Christen, B., & Slack, J. M. W. (2003). Molecular pathways needed for regeneration of spinal cord and muscle in a vertebrate. Developmental Cell, 5, 429-439.

2002

Journal - Research Article

Beck, C. W., & Slack, J. M. W. (2002). Notch is required for outgrowth of the Xenopus tail bud. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 46, 255-258.

2001

Journal - Research Article

Beck, C. W., Whitman, M., & Slack, J. M. W. (2001). The role of BMP signaling in outgrowth and patterning of the Xenopus tail bud. Developmental Biology, 238, 303-314.

Beck, C. W., & Slack, J. M. W. (2001). An amphibian with ambition: A new role for Xenopus in the 21st century [Minireview]. Genome Biology, 2(10), 1029.1-1029.5. Retrieved from http://genomebiology.com/2001/2/10/reviews/1029

2000

Journal - Research Article

Chalmers, A. D., Slack, J. M. W., & Beck, C. W. (2000). Regional gene expression in the epithelia of the Xenopus tadpole gut. Mechanisms of Development, 96, 125-128.