A5103260989- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
University of California, Davis
2007-2024
GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom)
2015
Mutations in MECP2 cause the autism-spectrum disorder Rett syndrome. MeCP2 is predicted to bind methylated promoters and silence transcription. However, first large-scale mapping of neuronal MeCP2-binding sites on 26.3 Mb imprinted nonimprinted loci revealed that 59% are outside genes only 6% CpG islands. Integrated genome-wide promoter analysis binding, methylation, gene expression 63% MeCP2-bound actively expressed highly methylated. These results indicate primary function not silencing promoters.
Human chromosome 15q11-13 is a complex locus containing imprinted genes as well cluster of three GABAA receptor subunit (GABR) genes—GABRB3, GABRA5 and GABRG3. Deletion or duplication GABR occurs in multiple human neurodevelopmental disorders including Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), Angelman (AS) autism. GABRB3 protein expression also reduced Rett (RTT), caused by mutations MECP2 on Xq28. Although Gabrb3 biallelically expressed mouse brain, conflicting data exist regarding the imprinting...
Migration is essential for the reproduction and survival of many animals, yet little understood about its underlying molecular mechanisms. We used salmonid Oncorhynchus mykiss to gain mechanistic insight into smoltification, which a morphological, physiological behavioural transition undertaken by juveniles in preparation seaward migration. O. experimentally tractable displays intra- interpopulation variation migration propensity. Migratory individuals can produce nonmigratory progeny vice...
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection methods can complement traditional biomonitoring to yield new ecological insights in aquatic systems. However, the conceptual and methodological frameworks for eDNA interpretation were developed primarily freshwater environments have not been well established estuaries marine that are by nature dynamic, turbid, hydrologically complex. context species life history critical successful application of methods, challenges associated with subject a...
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods complement traditional aquatic monitoring surveys and are especially advantageous for rare listed species to detect spatial temporal distribution patterns. However, improvements in ease of use portability could increase the utility eDNA methods, leading more widespread application, including expanding its role management decision‐making processes. We describe development an detection assay delta smelt ( Hypomesus transpacificus ), endangered fish San...
Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to play a role in the etiology of autism. This hypothesis is supported by discovery increased MECP2 promoter methylation associated with decreased MeCP2 protein expression autism male brain. To further understand influence female X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and neighboring patterns on aberrant autism, multiple analyses were performed brain blood samples from individuals Bisulfite sequencing region 0.6 kb upstream DNA revealed an abrupt...
Abstract One of the most fundamental aspects ecological research and monitoring is accurate species identification, but cryptic speciation observer error can confound phenotype‐based identification. The CRISPR‐Cas toolkit has facilitated remarkable advances in many scientific disciplines, fields ecology conservation biology have yet to fully embrace this powerful technology. recently developed CRISPR‐Cas13a platform SHERLOCK (Specific High‐sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing) enables...
The valley elderberry longhorn beetle (VELB), Desmocerus californicus dimorphus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a federally threatened subspecies endemic to the Central Valley of California. VELB range partially overlaps with that its morphologically similar sister taxon, California (CELB), Cerambycidae). Current surveying methods are limited visual identification larval exit holes in VELB/CELB host plant, (Sambucus spp.), into which larvae bore and excavate feeding galleries. Unbiased...