Research Interests
Laboratory focuses on gene discovery of complex and monogenic disorders.
Key words: Fun Lab, Bioinformatics galore, espirit de corps, collegial atmosphere, challenging projects, molecular genetics.
Description of Research
Projects include searching for the genes for myopia, age related macula degeneration(AMD), Nance Horan Syndrome and Tcm. The myopia and AMD projects are a large scale population based study involving the identification of Amish and Orthodox Jewish families followed by gene mapping and candidate gene identification. Nance Horan Syndrome is an X-linked disorder which causes eye and dental abnormalities. We have identified a very small region of the X chromosome which contains the gene and are screening the DNA sequence for possible mutations. Tcm is a mouse mutant which has hydrocephalus and microphthalmia. We have identified a region in the mouse genome which contains the gene and are screening the DNA sequence for mutations. We are also doing in situ hybridization with many genes involved with dorsal ventral patterning to identify the developmental defect in the eye.
Common techniques in the lab include bioinformatics, DNA cloning, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, in situ hybridization, DNA sequencing and library screening.
Rotation Projects for 2006-2007
1. Screen a cDNA library.
2. Mutation analysis of candidate genes for myopia, AMD or Nance Horan.
Lab personnel:
David Brooks, MD, PhD
Kristen Huang, PhD
Melissa Schlifka, M.S.
Chris Moy, M.A., M..S.
Ken Wang, graduate student
Debra Dana
Jinhua Wu
Selected Publications
Brooks, D.G., Manova-Todorova, K., Farmer, J., Lobmayr, L., Wilson, R.B., Eagle, R.C., St. Pierre, T.G.and Stambolian, D.: Ferritin crystallization causes cataract in hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 43: 1121-26, 2002.
Sidjanin, D.J., Parker-Wilson, D.M., Neuhauser-Klaus, A., Petsch, W., Favor, J., Deen, P.M., Ohtaka-Maruyama, C., Lu, Y., Bragin, A., Skach, W.R., Chepelinsky, A.B., Grimes, P.A. and Stambolian, D.E.: A 76-bp deletion in the Mip gene causes autosomal dominant cataract in Hfi mice. Genomics 74: 313-9, 2001.
Ai, Y., Zheng, Z., O'Brien-Jenkins, A., Bernard, D.J., Wynshaw-Boris, T., Ning, C., Reynolds, R., Segal, S., Huang, K. and Stambolian, D.: A mouse model of galactose induced cataracts. Hum. Mol. Genet. 9: 1821-7, 2000.
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Last updated: 04/01/2009
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