Bernard Duncker

Dr. Bernard Duncker is a Professor in the Department of Biology whose lab work focuses on using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in cancer-related studies of the cell cycle.

Duncker’s research on yeast and the proteins involved in controlling DNA replication and cell cycle checkpoints has applications in detecting the presence of environmental carcinogens and cancer in humans. His lab focuses on identifying and characterizing protein factors that control the initiation of DNA replication. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be a very useful organism for such studies because it is one of the few eukaryotes for which origins of replication have been well characterized, and the only one for which an origin consensus sequence has been identified. This advanced knowledge of budding yeast genetics has permitted the identification of numerous protein factors that associate with replication origins. These include members of the pre replicative complex (pre RC), which assembles at origins during G1 phase of the cell cycle and must be present for origins to fire. In addition, kinase complexes such as Clb/Cdc28 and Dbf4/Cdc7 are required to trigger replication. Work in Duncker's laboratory is aimed at studying the way in which kinase complexes act at origins, characterizing novel origin-associated proteins and determining how these protein factors are regulated when cell cycle checkpoints are triggered.

Duncker’s work uncovers the fundamental mechanisms that ensure cells replicate their DNA accurately and only once per cycle. By revealing how these controls fail in disease, particularly cancer, his research has helped build the foundation for improved cancer detection and treatment strategies. Over decades, discoveries from his lab and the wider field have enabled key replication factors to be used as biomarkers, with the long‑term goal of supporting earlier diagnosis and more targeted, less toxic cancer therapies.

• DNA replication

• Cell cycle checkpoints

• Molecular genetics

• Bioinformatics

• 1995, PhD Biology, Queen's University, Canada

• 1988, BSc Biology, University of Ottawa, Canada

• 2008, 2013, University of Waterloo Outstanding Performance Award

• 2005 – 2010, Ontario Early Researcher Award

• 2003 – 2009, Canadian Cancer Society Research Scientist Award

• 1997 – 2000, NCIC Terry Fox Postdoctoral Fellowship

• 2022 – 2025, Associate Vice-President, Research and International

• 2018 – 2021, Associate Vice-President, Interdisciplinary Research

• 2017 – 2018, Panel Member – CIHR Project Scheme Competition, Cell Biology and Mechanisms of Disease Panel

• 2013 – 2018, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Science

• 2012 – 2018, University of Waterloo Senator

• 2012 – 2015, Panel Chair – NSERC PDF and PGS-D, Cellular and Molecular Biology Committee

• 2011 – 2013, Panel Chair - Ontario Early Researcher Award – Life Sciences, Non-clinical Panel

• 2011 – 2012, Panel Member – NSERC PDF and PGS-D, Cellular and Molecular Biology Committee

• 2009, 2011, Panel Member – Ontario Early Researcher Award – Biomedical Research Panel

• 2006 – 2008, Selection Committee - Ontario Council on Graduate Studies Women’s Health Scholars Awards

• 2006, Invited Panel Member - CIHR Operating Grants – Cell Biology and Mechanisms of Disease Panel

• 2001 – 2005, Panel Member - Ontario Graduate Scholarship

• 2008 – 2011, Genetics Society of Canada (Secretary)

• 2004 – 2007, Genetics Society of Canada (Eastern Director)

• 2000 – 2020, Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (Member)

• 2000 – 2011, Genetics Society of Canada (Member)

• Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Member)

• Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (Member)

• BIOL 434 - Human Molecular Genetics
  • Taught in 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• For the full list of Bernard Duncker's publications, please see Google Scholar.

• Varrin AE, Prasad AA, Scholz RP, Ramer MD, Duncker BP. (2005). A mutation in Dbf4 motif M impairs interactions with DNA replication factors and confers increased resistance to genotoxic agents. Mol Cell Biol. Sep;25(17):7494-504 https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.25.17.7494-7504.2005

• Semple JW, Da-Silva LF, Jervis EJ, Ah-Kee J, Al-Attar H, Kummer L, Heikkila JJ, Pasero P, Duncker BP. (2006). An essential role for Orc6 in DNA replication through maintenance of pre-replicative complexes. EMBO J. Nov 1;25(21):5150-8 https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.emboj.7601391

• Ramer MD, Suman ES, Richter H, Stanger K, Spranger M, Bieberstein N, Duncker BP. (2013). Dbf4 and Cdc7 proteins promote DNA replication through interactions with distinct Mcm2-7 protein subunits. J Biol Chem. May 24;288(21):14926-35 https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M112.392910

• Almawi AW, Matthews LA, Larasati, Myrox P, Boulton S, Lai C, Moraes T, Melacini G, Ghirlando R, Duncker BP, Guarné A. (2016). 'AND' logic gates at work: Crystal structure of Rad53 bound to Dbf4 and Cdc7. Sci Rep. Sep 29;6:34237. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34237

• Weng Q, Wan L, Straker GC, Deegan TD, Duncker BP, Neiman AM, Luk E, Hollingsworth NM. (2024). An acidic loop in the forkhead-associated domain of the yeast meiosis-specific kinase Mek1 interacts with a specific motif in a subset of Mek1 substrates. Genetics. Sep 4;228(1):iyae106 https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyae106