Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Howard Lipshitz. In the past six years Howard has been an inspiring and supportive mentor. He has also been a trusted friend, and has allowed me to feel like an intellectual colleague and a "partner-in-crime " in the venture of science. I will sorely miss the daily interactions with him that have made my days as a graduate student so gratifying. Thank you Howard, for your patience, guidance and encouragement. Countless other people have shaped my scientific and personal development during graduate school. My committee members, Elliot Meyerowitz, Paul Sternberg, Barbara Wold, and Kai Zinn have supported me over the years. C.-c