Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2005

Mentor: Andrew Zinn, MD, PhD
Department: McDermott Center
Room number: NB10.110
Mail Code: 8591
Phone number: 8-1615
E-mail: Andrew.Zinn@UTSouthwestern.edu

Project title: Transcriptional targets of Sim1 obesity gene

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): n/a
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0770-04-08-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) animal-based

Brief Description of Project:

We are studying mice that carry increased or decreased copies of the Sim1 gene that acts in the hypothalamus to regulate feeding. The project involves preparing mRNA from the hypothalami of these mice, comparing the expression profile by microarray analysis to identify potential transcriptional targets of Sim1, and confirming potential targets in vivo and in vitro.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Anuj Goel MS1 summer 2002. Studies of mouse model of obesity.
Matthew Stevenson MS0 summer 2003. Positional cloning of an X-linked skin disease gene.
Jennifer Hawkins MS0 summer 2004 . Candidate gene study in anorectal malformations.

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