Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Department: Pediatrics
Room number: ND03.120C
Mail Code: 8534
Phone number: 8-1645
E-mail: James.Amatruda@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: Molecular Regulation of Germ Cell Migration

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 2007-0228

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 research

Brief Description of Project:

The factors that control primordial germ cell migration are incompletely understood. Aberrant migration contributes to infertility and possibly to germ cell tumorigenesis. This project will use the zebrafish embryo as an in vivo model of germ cell migration. By expressing specific genes targeted to the germ cells, we can interogate key signalling pathways that may control the specification, survival and migration of primordial germ cells.

Students participating in this project wil have the opportunity to make DNA expression constructs, perform microinjection experiments, and carry out phenotypic analysis on the eveloping zebrafish germline.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
UT-SUMR mentor for:
Megan Breeden Wachsmann
Danielle Moye
David Zhang
Timothy Brown (manuscript under review)