DOCSLIB.ORG

Curious Chiara

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Curious Chiara 36 The Young Darwinian The articles here illustrate how diverse My parents are my heroes. They are and inspiring curiosity can be, and how both passionate scientists, and my it stimulated these people to become sister and I grew up in an environment professional scientists or engineers. surrounded by science. My parents exposed me to many interesting and Dr Chiara Pazzagli knowledgeable people, as well as Curious researcher in biomedicine and interesting places. They opened my drug discovery mind to the world, and they taught me to explore every path with freedom, Key words: passion and curiosity. falling stars, 2. When and why did you decide to cells, choose science as a career, labyrinths particularly what or who inspired Curious you? Did you have any family connections to careers in science? Even though I was surrounded by science, I was no good at maths, people physics or chemistry at school. When I Age: 35 years finished college I didn’t want to study Novartis Institutes for BioMedical science at all, but rather become a Research - NIBR journalist or a psychologist. I tried Translational Medicine different faculties, which were all Novartis Campus WSJ-386.12.48.29 uninteresting to me. One day I CH-4056 Basel Switzerland attended by chance, with a friend, a Email: [email protected] biology lesson at the University, where a passionate Professor stated that ‘a cell is the smallest entity capable of its Ten questions own life, and you can think of it as the Be curious! 1. What made you curious when smallest, but infinitive, Universe’. At you were young, and did you this exact moment I realized I was in have any heroes who influenced the right place, ready and curious to you? For example, is there a learn more about Nature. person, place, event, or 3. Where did you grow up, and what moment that influenced was your educational path? or changed your way of thinking? I grew up in the beautiful city of Florence, in Italy. I carried out my With my family, we used university studies there too, becoming to lie down in the garden a scientist in 2011, with a thesis based watching falling stars on rare diseases. During my studies I during the warm went on a summer exchange to summer nights in Washington DC, at the National Tuscany, and I used to Institute of Health, where I performed be stunned by the my first research as a scientist. I then vastness of the sky moved to Germany for my PhD, where and those sparkling I defended my thesis in Molecular stars. Also, one day - I was Medicine in 2014. 12 back then - my dad came back from work, bringing with 4. How has your career developed him petri dishes. My sister after university, and how was and I were allowed to put it funded? our hands in them, just for During my final years at the University I fun. The following morning, realized I wanted to carry out research my dad brought the into Rare Diseases, being affected by dishes back from the lab, one myself. I wanted to commit to a where they incubated for topic that was poorly explored, to two weeks. He let us contribute meaningfully to science, and watch what developed to help patients. My journey to achieve on the medium of the my dream brought me to Germany, dishes – different bacteria and where my research, conferences and fungus. Everything that was on travel exchanges were mainly funded our dirty hand, invisible to the by the Excellence Programs SGBM and naked eye, was now the DFG, the German Research displayed in colorful foundation, or by other awards that I patterns. All those achieved. Finally, in 2015, I landed at mysteries of the infinitive Novartis in Basel, where I am big, and the infinitive small, collaborating with international teams fascinated me. I think and experts to develop new treatments developed my interest in for patients with rare diseases, or Nature back then. other unmet medical needs. Issue 1 January 2018 The Young Darwinian 37 5. Have you had any break-though to help the surgery! Even if this meeting e) Mascalchi, M. et al . 2017. Circulating moments in your research? If so was very successful, and relevant for tumor cells and microemboli can what were they, and how did they the trial, I have to say it was quite an differentiate malignant and benign affect your development? unusual experience, which I am not pulmonary lesions. J Cancer. 8(12):2223- My initial experiments were a mess. looking forward to repeat. 2230. DOI: 10.7150/jca.18418. Very few worked, and I had to spend 9. List six key publications (not eCollection 2017. A liquid biopsy is the several nights and weekends in the necessarily yours), and explain why sampling and analysis of blood. This lab. Also, being far from home, and you have chosen them. technique is mainly used as a immersed in an entirely new cultural a) Saiki, R.K. et al . 1988. Primer-directed diagnostic and monitoring tool for setting, making new friends, and enzymatic amplification of DNA with a diseases such as cancer, with the providing good performance in my thermostable DNA polymerase. Science added benefit of being largely non- research, was not always easy. But I 239 (4839),487-491. The PCR invasive. This procedure can thus be worked hard, and became more (polymerase chain reaction) is a very performed more frequently, to skilled with time. The support of my special technique that allows you to monitor relapse or the efficiency of family and new friends kept my make an enormous number of copies cancer treatments over time. motivation high. I have learned a lot DNA extracted from the organism's 10. What advice would you give a from all those stressful times, which cells. PCR is one of the ‘Eureka’ curious young mind? Imagine your turned into great positive changes. discoveries, as it is very simple, and is ten year old self, if you started They’ve taught me a lot, and made me used for so many things, such as again! Is there a big unanswered stronger. Finally, in 2017, I had my paternity testing, screening for genetic question today? research published in an important disorders, criminal investigations, or Science is very exciting, and offers a journal, with one of my fluorescent to identify cancers and pathogens. wide and interdisciplinary area to cells on the cover page! b) Herb, B.R. 2014. Epigenetics as an work in. It has many unexplored 6. What do you regard as your most answer to Darwin's ‘special difficulty’. topics to be investigated, many important discoveries and Front Genet. 5, 321. DOI: innovative technologies to use and inventions, and why? 10.3389/fgene.2014.00321. Organisms implement. There’s space for I think my most important discoveries with the same genome can respond everyone. However, I think it’s were achieved by observing living cells differently to their environment, and important to acknowledge that under the microscope, recording them develop different phenotypes. This sometimes there’s a lot of in time-lapse while they moved into a phenomenon is called epigenetic, and competition and poor collaboration petri dish. I discovered that some cells allows organisms to respond between scientists. Don’t let them prefer to adhere and move on special successfully to evolution and survival obstacle your curiosity, or push you substrates, and they can even acquire hurdles. The authors describe what away from your dreams and scientific the ability to walk and jump, one on top happens to honey bee’s larvae during interests. Take your risks and follow of the other if they are missing some their development. All larvae are your path with integrity and by anchoring proteins. (Pazzagli, C., et al ., genetically the same. However if a larva seeking for collaboration. 2017. Absence of the Integrin α3 Subunit is fed with the royal jelly it turns into a Induces an Activated Phenotype in Human queen, able to reproduce. If not, the Keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol. larvae become sterile workers. So food 137(6):1387-1391. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid. is able to interfere with the differential 2017.01.018. Epub 2017 Feb 3.) development of reproductive organs! 7. Can you think of anything that c) Abbott, B.P. et al . 2017. (LIGO Scientific could have done better, and do you Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration). have any regrets? GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Actually, I don’t have major regrets. Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Working in the field of rare diseases, Inspiral. Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 161101 – which I really like, is very stimulating to 16. This publication is an example of Curiosity inspires, discovert reveals me. But I also find it very challenging, as international teamwork, and a massive the topic is poorly explored, and there effort from scientists from all over the are not many knowledgeable scientists world. For the first time in history, after that can support you. They are also many years of difficult research and rare! Thus, such research leaves a lot of experimental limitations, they could space for creativity and imagination. But detect gravitational waves originating it can also bring you to a halt, and a bit in the space from two merging stars. of isolation. I would have liked to discuss d) Wilmut, I. 2013. A tribute to Keith my research with a broader team of Campbell: the birth of the first clone of scientists, and brainstorm how we an adult vertebrate, ‘Dolly’ the sheep. could apply the discoveries to patients.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Observation and a Numerical Study of Gravity Waves During Tropical Cyclone Ivan (2008)
    Open Access Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 641–658, 2014 Atmospheric www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/641/2014/ doi:10.5194/acp-14-641-2014 Chemistry © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. and Physics Observation and a numerical study of gravity waves during tropical cyclone Ivan (2008) F. Chane Ming1, C. Ibrahim1, C. Barthe1, S. Jolivet2, P. Keckhut3, Y.-A. Liou4, and Y. Kuleshov5,6 1Université de la Réunion, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones, UMR8105, CNRS-Météo France-Université, La Réunion, France 2Singapore Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 3Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, UMR8190, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Université Versailles-Saint Quentin, Guyancourt, France 4Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Chung-Li 3200, Taiwan 5National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia 6School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, Australia Correspondence to: F. Chane Ming ([email protected]) Received: 3 December 2012 – Published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.: 24 April 2013 Revised: 21 November 2013 – Accepted: 2 December 2013 – Published: 22 January 2014 Abstract. Gravity waves (GWs) with horizontal wavelengths ber 1 vortex Rossby wave is suggested as a source of domi- of 32–2000 km are investigated during tropical cyclone (TC) nant inertia GW with horizontal wavelengths of 400–800 km, Ivan (2008) in the southwest Indian Ocean in the upper tropo- while shorter scale modes (100–200 km) located at northeast sphere (UT) and the lower stratosphere (LS) using observa- and southeast of the TC could be attributed to strong local- tional data sets, radiosonde and GPS radio occultation data, ized convection in spiral bands resulting from wave number 2 ECMWF analyses and simulations of the French numerical vortex Rossby waves.
    [Show full text]
  • Dolly the Sheep – the First Cloned Adult Animal
    DOLLY THE SHEEP – THE FIRST CLONED ADULT ANIMAL NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVING LIVESTOCK From Squidonius via Wikimedia Commons In 1996, University of Edinburgh scientists celebrated the birth of Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned using SCNT cloning is the only technology adult somatic cells. The Edinburgh team’s success followed available that enables generation of 99.8% its improvements to the single cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) genetically identical offspring from selected technique used in the cloning process. individuals of adult animals (including sterilized animals). As such, it is being Dolly became a scientific icon recognised worldwide and exploited as an efficient multiplication tool SCNT technology has spread around the world and has been to support specific breeding strategies of used to clone multiple farm animals. farm animals with exceptionally high genetic The cloning of livestock enables growing large quantities of value. the most productive, disease resistant animals, thus providing more food and other animal products. Sir Ian Wilmut (Inaugural Director of MRC Centre for Regeneration and Professor at CMVM, UoE) and colleagues worked on methods to create genetically improved livestock by manipulation of stem cells using nuclear transfer. Their research optimised interactions between the donor nucleus and the recipient cytoplasm at the time of fusion and during the first cell cycle. Nuclear donor cells were held in mitosis before being released and used as they were expected to be passing through G1 phase. CLONING IN COMMERCE, CONSERVATION OF AGRICULTURE AND PRESERVATION ANIMAL BREEDS OF LIVESTOCK DIVERSITY Cloning has been used to conserve several animal breeds in the recent past.
    [Show full text]
  • Laser Interferometer Space Antenna What Is LISA?
    Volume 11 number 4 2003 FALL Quarter A FLIGHT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS DIRECTORATE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION A Newsletter Published for Code 400 Employees INSIDE Laser Interferometer Space Antenna THIS What is LISA? ISSUE: How did the Universe begin? Does time have a beginning and an end? Does What is LISA? Page 1 space have edges? These are the questions we've struggled to answer for cen- Solar Dynamic Observatory Page 1 turies. Science and technology have now reached the point where answers to these questions are finally within our grasp. The Laser Interferometer Space Message From The Director Of Page 2 Antenna (LISA) may supply some of these answers as the mission studies Peer Award Ceremony & Picnic Page 2 the mergers of supermassive black holes, tests Einstein's Theory of General Tintypes Page 3 Relativity, probes the early Universe, and searches for gravitational waves—— its primary objective. Feedback Page 3 As the first dedicated space-based gravitational wave observatory, LISA will Technology Corner Page 6 detect waves generated by binaries within our Galaxy (the Milky Way) and Quotes of the Quarter Page 7 by massive black holes in distant galaxies. LISA will use an advanced system of laser interferometry for directly detecting and measuring them. This OBPR Free-Flyer Page 10 Best of the Best Page 12 (LISA Continued on page 4) The English Language Page 13 Peer Awards Page 14 Living with a Star Program – NASA Honor Awards Page 16 Solar Dynamics Observatory TCP Social News Page 19 Developing an understanding of the Sun took on a renewed sense of ur- Cultural Tidbits Page 19 gency during late October/early November.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Biotechnology 2008
    guide to biotechnology 2008 research & development health bioethics innovate industrial & environmental food & agriculture biodefense Biotechnology Industry Organization 1201 Maryland Avenue, SW imagine Suite 900 Washington, DC 20024 intellectual property 202.962.9200 (phone) 202.488.6301 (fax) bio.org inform bio.org The Guide to Biotechnology is compiled by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Editors Roxanna Guilford-Blake Debbie Strickland Contributors BIO Staff table of Contents Biotechnology: A Collection of Technologies 1 Regenerative Medicine ................................................. 36 What Is Biotechnology? .................................................. 1 Vaccines ....................................................................... 37 Cells and Biological Molecules ........................................ 1 Plant-Made Pharmaceuticals ........................................ 37 Therapeutic Development Overview .............................. 38 Biotechnology Industry Facts 2 Market Capitalization, 1994–2006 .................................. 3 Agricultural Production Applications 41 U.S. Biotech Industry Statistics: 1995–2006 ................... 3 Crop Biotechnology ...................................................... 41 U.S. Public Companies by Region, 2006 ........................ 4 Forest Biotechnology .................................................... 44 Total Financing, 1998–2007 (in billions of U.S. dollars) .... 4 Animal Biotechnology ................................................... 45 Biotech
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Multiscale Vortices in the Development of Hurricane Dolly (2008)
    JANUARY 2011 F A N G A N D Z H A N G 103 Evolution of Multiscale Vortices in the Development of Hurricane Dolly (2008) JUAN FANG Key Laboratory of Mesoscale Severe Weather (MOE), Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China FUQING ZHANG Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania (Manuscript received 6 April 2010, in final form 6 July 2010) ABSTRACT As a follow-up to a previously published article on the initial development and genesis of Hurricane Dolly (2008), this study further examines the evolution of, and interactions among, multiscale vortices ranging from the system-scale main vortex (L . 150 km) to the intermediate-scale cloud clusters (50 km , L , 150 km) and individual vorticity-rich convective cells (L , 50 km). It is found that there are apparent self-similarities among these vortices at different scales, each of which may undergo several cycles of alternating accumulation and release of convective available potential energy. Enhanced surface fluxes below individual cyclonic vortices at each scale contribute to the sustainment and reinvigoration of moist convection that in turn contributes to the maintenance and upscale growth of these vortices. Spectral analysis of horizontal divergence and relative vorticity further suggests that the cloud-cluster-scale and system-scale vortices are predominantly balanced while the individual convective vortices are largely unbalanced. The vorticity and energy produced by these individual vorticity-rich convective cells first saturate at convective scales that are subsequently transferred to larger scales. The sum of the diabatic heating released from these convective cells may be regarded as a persistent forcing on the quasi-balanced system-scale vortex.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Transgenic Livestock with Reduced Myostatin
    DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSGENIC LIVESTOCK WITH REDUCED MYOSTATIN EXPRESSION USING RNA INTERFERENCE A Dissertation by KIMBERLY JEAN TESSANNE Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2009 Major Subject: Veterinary Physiology DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSGENIC LIVESTOCK WITH REDUCED MYOSTATIN EXPRESSION USING RNA INTERFERENCE A Dissertation by KIMBERLY JEAN TESSANNE Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Mark Westhusin Committee Members, Charles Long Thomas Spencer Nancy Ing Head of Department, Glen Laine December 2009 Major Subject: Veterinary Physiology iii ABSTRACT Development of Transgenic Livestock with Reduced Myostatin Expression Using RNA Interference. (December 2009) Kimberly Jean Tessanne, B.S., The Ohio State University; M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Mark Westhusin RNA interference (RNAi) is a means of regulating gene expression by targeting mRNA in a sequence-specific manner for degradation or translational inhibition. Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been extensively employed for manipulating gene expression in a wide range of species. The goal for this research was to produce transgenic livestock in which myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth, has been targeted for silencing by RNAi. This would demonstrate the utility of RNAi for reducing gene expression in large animal species. To successfully target the myostatin gene for reduction, siRNAs were designed to target the both the bovine and caprine myostatin mRNA sequence.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rotary Club of Richmond
    TABLE OF CONTENTS RI President Kalyan Banerjee Bio ..................................4 INTERNATIONAL SERVICE RI President Kalyan Banerjee Letter ..............................5 2008 Refilwe Project .....................................................50 Letter from PM Stephen Harper .....................................6 Disaster Relief ...............................................................51 Letter from MP Alice Wong ...........................................7 2007 Joint Wheelchair Project .....................................52 Letter from Premier Christy Clark ..................................8 Aid for Children in Trinidad .........................................52 Letter from MLA Linda Reid ..........................................9 Korle-Bu Neuroscience .................................................53 Letter from Mayor Malcolm Brodie ..............................10 2009 Shoes for Sri Lanka ..............................................53 Letter from District Governor Hans Doge ...................11 The Rotary Foundation.................................................54 Rotary Club President Ken Whitney Bio ......................12 PolioPlus ........................................................................54 About Rotary & Paul P. Harris ......................................13 Paul Harris Fellows ........................................................55 Guiding Principles .........................................................14 Ambulance Projects ......................................................56
    [Show full text]
  • Cloning After Dolly
    Cloning after Dolly Professor Derek Burke 'Cloning' is a loose term used to describe everything from a new super race of identical near- robots (remember 'The Boys from Brazil'?) to propagating your roses. It actually means a twig, so it starts from the horticultural end, but is used much more widely. Dolly was the first cloned mammal and must be the most famous sheep in the world. Two things made her famous: first that she is an artificially induced clone, genetically identical to a previously existing sheep, for Dolly can be thought of as a vertical twin with identical genes, in this case to the parent. Second is the way in which it was done. The scientists took the nucleus from a cell from the udder of an adult sheep and implanted it in an egg cell whose original nucleus had been removed. Very surprisingly, the adult cell DNA was able to give rise to a complete individual, not just more udder cells. This was surprising because, although at the earliest stage of development the DNA is still pluripotent, capable of generating the growth of the whole animal, later in development, specialization sets in, and cells become differentiated into heart cells, liver cells etc. The whole of the genetic material is still there, but most of it is switched off and only the genes relevant to that particular cell are active. It had been thought that this process of differentiation in mammals was irreversible, so that an udder cell could only give rise to more udder cells. But we now know that differentiation can be reversed.
    [Show full text]
  • Cessation of Anadromy in a Long-Lived Fish
    Ecology, 96(7), 2015, pp. 1899–1910 Ó 2015 by the Ecological Society of America Beyond dichotomous life histories in partially migrating populations: cessation of anadromy in a long-lived fish 1,3 2 1 MORGAN H. BOND, JESSICA A. MILLER, AND THOMAS P. QUINN 1School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA 2Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365 USA Abstract. Across animal taxa, migration allows individuals to exploit habitats and resources that predictably vary seasonally in suitability. Theory predicts that the ‘‘decision’’ to migrate or not is shaped by the relative fitness costs and benefits of exhibiting a given life history. Adoption of a migratory strategy is widely thought to reflect a dichotomous outcome; individuals are either resident or migratory, and continue to exhibit this life history until death. In fishes, anadromy and freshwater residency represents a well-studied life history dichotomy. Resident individuals may adopt a migratory life history later in life, but migratory individuals are not known to abandon this pattern. Here, we investigated the fitness benefits, as measured by body size, of residency and anadromy in a salmonid fish, Dolly Varden, Salvelinus malma, in Alaska, and reveal a novel life history: cessation of migration by older, larger individuals. Otolith microchemical analysis of Dolly Varden showed that while most fish migrated to sea at least once in their lives, lifelong resident fish exist in streams with close proximity to the ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Cloning and Testing
    Genetic Cloning and Testing BACKGROUND Genetic Cloning or years, humans successfully have used myriad genetic techniques—from GLOSSARY Fselective breeding to genetic manipulation—to create plants and animals Chromosome with desirable characteristics. Corn has been genetically engineered to improve Units in the nucleus of a cell, resistance to fungus and viral infections, rot, and drought, and calves have been composed of DNA, that contain genes; normal human somatic cells genetically altered to accelerate the growth process, to cite two examples. contain 46 chromosomes (23 pair). Clone Genetic cloning is a comparatively new process that uses the DNA contained in Duplicate. cells to “clone,” or duplicate, strands of DNA, cells, or organisms to achieve DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid; the material exact copies of the original. These genetic clones are analogous to identical inside the nucleus of a cell that human twins—two genetically identical individuals whose development can be carries genetic information. traced to the division of a single embryo. For some time, scientists have known Embryo The prefetal product of conception that multiple animals could be created in the same way that human twins are from implantation through the 12th created: by dividing a single embryo into multiple embryos shortly after fertiliza- week of development. An embryo conceived through sexual tion. This creates offspring that are genetically identical to each other and have reproduction receives half its genetic received their genetic information from each sexual parent (half from the male, information from each sexual parent—that is, half comes from half from the female). the sperm and half from the egg.
    [Show full text]
  • Cloning a Plasmid
    Dolly, herself http://oracleformsinfo.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/clone.jpg Dolly the sheep, who became famous as the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, has died. The news was confirmed on Friday by the Roslin Institute, the Scottish research centre which created her. A decision was taken to "euthanize" six-year-old Dolly after a veterinary examination showed that she had a progressive lung disease, the institute said in a statement. Dolly became the first mammal clone when she was born on 5 July 1996. She was revealed to the public the following year. http://martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/roslin_dolly.html What is a clone? A clone is a • Pieces of DNA group of • Plasmids genetically • Bacteria identical … ummm….. • Eukaryotic cells in vivo • Eukaryotic cells Thingies? • Organisms • Other examples? http://media.moddb.com/images/downloads/1/25/24418/Star_wars_the_clone_wars.jpg To DNA (& etc) http://anglelakesc.blogspot.com/2011/10/road-construction-detours.html Cloning a plasmid http://wiki.biomine.skelleftea.se/wiki/images/9/93/Cloning_with_the_help_of_LacZ_.png Do clones occur in nature? • Identical twins • Lymphocytes • An embryo … http://cadencemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/twins.gif YOU are a clone of your original fertilized egg! Are cloned cells identical? -- genetically? -- functionally? How? Why? Why not? Dolly & her baby – so Dolly was fertile Fertility is a common measure of whether a genome is really complete http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2764039.stm First Cloned Mouse Dies Of Old Age: Technique Believed More Reliable Than That Used For Dolly The Sheephttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/05/10/tech/main193799.shtml • Why clone? • Clone what ? • Humans – Whole? • Financial benefit – Parts? • Convenience • Animals • Uniformity – Agricultural • Personal emotion – Environmental restoration • Medical intervention – Fun – e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • BSCI410-Liu/SP09 Midterm Exam #2/Apr. 14 Your Name
    BSCI410-Liu/SP09 Midterm Exam #2/Apr. 14 Your Name: 1. (28 points total) Scientists are trying to unlock the molecular basis of a mysterious hereditary disease named DEAN SYMDROM (DS). ds mutant mice show a lack of memory and ds/ds mutant mice, when crossed with wild type (+/+) mice, produces progeny that also show memory loss. (a) (4 points) Is the ds mutation recessive or dominant? dominant (b) (4 points) Using molecular markers such as SNPs, scientists have mapped the putative DS gene to a small chromosomal region. This region contains three genes: X, Y, and Z. Design an experiment to test the expression of X, Y, and Z genes. Which tissue do you expect the candidate DS gene to be expressed in? Northern blot, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization to see which gene is expressed in brain tissue (c) (8 points) Through the above experiments, scientists identified gene Y that is expressed in the expected tissue. List two additional experiments that will definitely prove that gene Y is the DS gene. 1) sequence mutant mice DNA and compare with WT. If one detects a mutation in Y in the mutant mice, it would prove it. 2) Transgenic study - Introduce the mutant gene into the WT mouse to see if it causes memory loss (cannot introduce WT into mutant mouse to rescue because the mutation is dominant) I also took other reasonable answers. NOTE: Testing RNA expression will not definitely prove that gene Y is the DS gene. (d) (8 points) After identifying the mouse DS gene, you now have the DNA sequence of the mouse DS gene.
    [Show full text]