Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007

Mentor: James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Department: Pediatrics and Moelcular Biology
Room number: NB8.218
Mail Code: 8593
Phone number: 8-1645
E-mail: james.amatruda@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Molecualr Mechanisms of Germ Cell Tunmorigenesis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 1059-07-01

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, basic science research

Brief Description of Project: Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from the early germline progenitors known as Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs). We are using a combination of functional genomics and developmental genetics to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of GCTs. We use a powerful vertebrate model, the zebrafish, to approach this problem, because 1) most aspects of PGC biology are highly conserved from fish to human; 2) the PGCs can easily be detected and monitored in a living embryo, and 3) rapid, flexible techniques for knocking down expression of specific genes is available. Two projects are ongoing. In the first, we will knock down the zebrafish orthologs of human genes that are candidates for the chromosome 6q tumor-suppressor critical for the development of pediatric GCTs. In another project, we will use chemical and functional genomics to probe the role of the wnt/b-catenin pathway in the development of childhood GCTs.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

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