Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2006

Mentor: Scott Cameron
Department: Pediatrics and Molecular Biology
Room number: NA5.602A
Mail Code: 9148
Phone number: 214-648-5152
E-mail: scott.Cameron@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Zinc finger nucleases to stimulate gene targeting in C. elegans

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

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)
Basic research
Brief Description of Project:

There is currently no effective method for gene targeting in the model organism C. elegans, and development of a method to precisely engineer genes in the completely sequence genome of C. elegans would be a significant advance for all areas of research with this organism. We have recently obtained funding (an R21) from the NCI to support use of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) to stimulate gene targeting in the worm. This is a collaborative effort with Dr. Matt Porteus in Biochemistry, who is a world leader in design and use of ZFNs. We have generated a pair of nucleases to target a gene in the worm, and this summer Alberto will test these nucleases to see if they can direct genetic change in the genome of the worm.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

None.

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