SEMINAR: REMINDER--MBF602 STUDENT SEMINAR *TOMORROW* 3/9 @ 1pm---Xiao Du

[Pam Harris <pharris@rsmas.miami.edu>]

 

 

MBF Student Seminar Series

 

 

Xiao Du

Advisor: Dr. Margie Oleksiak

“Investigation for the effects of anthropogenic pollution on gene _expression_ and metabolic function in hepatocytes from natural populations of Fundulus heteroclitus”

Elizabeth River (VA, USA) is a Superfund site highly contaminated with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) from a wood treatment facility. A population of the salt marsh minnow, Fundulus heteroclitus, from this site is resistant to the PAH pollutants. However, the mechanism of this resistance is not yet well understood. PAHs are a toxicologically important class of pollutants because some compounds have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic. Their significance in the environment has been increasing partially due to the elevated rate of fossil fuel consumption. Thus natural populations’ responses to PAHs are of concern, and the population of F. heteroclitus inhabiting in Elizabeth River acts as good resource to study the interactions between PAHs and natural populations. There are three specific aims in my dissertation: (1) Do PAHs differentially affect primary hepatocytes isolated from populations of F. heteroclitus inhabiting Elizabeth River and a nearby reference site? (2) Does altered gene _expression_ affect metabolic response in hepatocytes from these two populations? (3) Within and between populations, are different genotypes more susceptible to PAH exposure? Our plan compares the polluted population from the Elizabeth River and a clean population from a nearby reference site. We are going to measure cell viability, metabolism, gene _expression_, and genotypes using primary hepatocytes.

 

 

Friday, March 9, 2012

1:00pm

 

RSMAS campus, S/A 103

 

Pamela Harris
Administrative Assistant
Marine Biology and Fisheries
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway/SLAB-118
Miami, FL 33149
(305) 421-4176
fax - (305) 421-4600
pharris@rsmas.miami.edu
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/divisions/marine-biology-fisheries/

On 3/7/2012 1:40 PM, Pam Harris wrote:

 

MBF Student Seminar Series

 

 

Xiao Du

Advisor: Dr. Margie Oleksiak

“Investigation for the effects of anthropogenic pollution on gene _expression_ and metabolic function in hepatocytes from natural populations of Fundulus heteroclitus”

 

 

Friday, March 9, 2012

1:00pm

 

RSMAS campus, S/A 103

 

Pamela Harris
Administrative Assistant
Marine Biology and Fisheries
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway/SLAB-118
Miami, FL 33149
(305) 421-4176
fax - (305) 421-4600
pharris@rsmas.miami.edu
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/divisions/marine-biology-fisheries/