Project #UR023
Project Number: UR023
Project Title: Biology Development in Drosophila: RAS/MAPKase pathway
Faculty Sponsor: Gerardo Paez
Department: Biology
Telephone: 810.762.0890
E-Mail: gpaez@umflint.edu
Proposed Starting Date: 09/01/2009
Proposed Ending Date: 06/30/2010
Student in mind: No
Number of hours to work per week: 1-6 hours
Project Description: All multi-cellular animals develop from a single cell. This is a central concept in developmental biology, underpinning our understanding of such basic cellular functions as cell differentiation, cell division, or cell growth (among others). Thus, it is the burden of this one cell, and all subsequent cells derived from this cell, to faithfully divide, and coordinately control a large number of diverse cellular processes in order to properly form a viable, fully functional organism. A striking fact of animal development is that a comparatively small number of developmental patterning signals control the vast majority of necessary and diverse cellular processes required for proper development to take place. Thus, the reiterative use of the same signaling pathways is used to elicit multiple different cellular functions. Therefore, proper regulation of these signaling pathways is critical to ensure the correct cellular function is carried out, as misregulation often leads to human diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and developmental abnormalities. Our long term goal for this study is a deeper understanding of the regulation of the Ras/MAPK signal transduction pathway, alterations in which are associated with approximately 25% of human tumors as well as neurodegeneration.
Student Tasks & Responsibilities:
1- Genetics of Drosophila
2- Identify fenotypes, genotypes
3- Disc eye dissection, Wing disc dissection
4- Immunohistochemistry
Minimum Student Qualifications: