Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Shannon, Katie
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S& T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
Budding yeast are a very good research organism, because they are similar to humans in many ways. One of the research opportunities 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. We focused on uncharacterized genes that have been identified in genomic screens as interacting with cytokinesis proteins. Another way to study gene function is to tag genes on the chromosomes. The purpose of tagging genes is to allow monitoring of protein localization in live cells without affecting the upstream regulatory regions. 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.
Biography
Katherine Stockstill is a junior at the Missouri University of Science and Technology where she is majoring in Biological Sciences. On campus, Katherine is the president of Kappa Delta Sorority, · she is also a member of Helix and Phi Sigma. She also has an OUR£ for her research in the Cytokinesis Lab. Katherine is also a wal1ress at Applebee's- After she graduates, Katherine plans to peruse a career in research.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Havener Center, Turner Room
Presentation Date
9 April 2008, 9:30 am - 10:00 am
Cytokinesis Defects in Budding Yeast
Havener Center, Turner Room
Budding yeast are a very good research organism, because they are similar to humans in many ways. One of the research opportunities 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. We focused on uncharacterized genes that have been identified in genomic screens as interacting with cytokinesis proteins. Another way to study gene function is to tag genes on the chromosomes. The purpose of tagging genes is to allow monitoring of protein localization in live cells without affecting the upstream regulatory regions. 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.
