Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Shannon, Katie
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
UMR Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
Budding yeast are a very good research organism, because they are very similar to humans in many ways. One of the problems with budding yeast is that there are many genes that are uncharacterized, and it is not known what their cellular function is or what their functional role is. One way to study gene function is to knock out the gene. The purpose of knocking genes out is because they are uncharacterized genes that have been identified in genomic screens as interacting with cytokinesis proteins. Cytokinesis is the division of a cell into two daughter cells. Our research lab is interested in cytokinesis, because cytokinesis defects can lead to polyploidy in the cell. This defect can lead to cancer or cell death. So far, are data shows that we have knocked out the genes, but we do not have enough data to say if we have gotten a cytokinesis defect.
Biography
Katherine is a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Rolla, majoring in Biological Sciences. On campus she is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and Helix. She is a participant in the UMR Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program. Off of campus she is a waitress at Applebee's. Katherine plans on pursuing a career in research after she graduates.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Final Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Havener Center, Meramec Room
Presentation Date
11 April 2007, 10:00 am - 10:30 am
Cytokinesis Defects in Budding Yeast
Havener Center, Meramec Room
Budding yeast are a very good research organism, because they are very similar to humans in many ways. One of the problems with budding yeast is that there are many genes that are uncharacterized, and it is not known what their cellular function is or what their functional role is. One way to study gene function is to knock out the gene. The purpose of knocking genes out is because they are uncharacterized genes that have been identified in genomic screens as interacting with cytokinesis proteins. Cytokinesis is the division of a cell into two daughter cells. Our research lab is interested in cytokinesis, because cytokinesis defects can lead to polyploidy in the cell. This defect can lead to cancer or cell death. So far, are data shows that we have knocked out the genes, but we do not have enough data to say if we have gotten a cytokinesis defect.
