Great job on your presentation! Do you know what experiments you would consider running to evaluate the actual function of the Hymelc gene considering it doesn’t play a role in the DNA damage repair process?
That’s a great question. I’m not sure the specifics of how the experiments would work. However, we have the DNA sequence of Hymelc. It’s possible that the Hymelc gene could be compared to other T. Therms with known functions. This could indicate possible functions based on how similar the sequences are.
Rad51 is a gene that is known to have a function in DNA damage repair. Hymelc simply had heightened expression during the same time period (conjugation) as Rad51. This information indicated the possibility that Hymelc had involvement in DNA damage repair, which is what was tested in this experiment. Since Hymelc didn’t have expression after DNA damage was induced, it was expected that it had a separate function during conjugation that doesn’t have to do with DNA damage repair.
I have interest in the medical field and have hopes to go to medical school at some point. I feel like developing a better understanding of the mechanisms of DNA damage repair, and the genes/proteins that are involved, is of great importance in terms of the treatments for cancers and countless diseases caused by DNA damage. Also, having more effective treatments by the time I am a doctor will make my life easier, and make my patients happier.
How did you predict the Hymelc gene wouldn’t be involved in DNA damage repair? Is this a commonly researched topic or was there an aspect of the gene that suggested it wouldn’t be successful?
T. Therm cut-up and repair their DNA during conjugation. Since Hymelc (my gene) had heightened expression during the conjugation phase, very similar to Rad51, it was predicted it had an association with DNA damage repair. To answer your next question, DNA damage repair has been studied for decades and has been of much importance in the study of cancers and many other diseases resulting from DNA damage. What is unique here is that we used Tetrahymena Thermophila as the model organism instead of the other commonly studied organisms. Lastly, before performing experiments, there wasn’t any indication that Hymelc wouldn’t have involvement in DNA damage repair. There was only potential in that little gene, and it let me down…
Great job on your presentation! Do you know what experiments you would consider running to evaluate the actual function of the Hymelc gene considering it doesn’t play a role in the DNA damage repair process?
That’s a great question. I’m not sure the specifics of how the experiments would work. However, we have the DNA sequence of Hymelc. It’s possible that the Hymelc gene could be compared to other T. Therms with known functions. This could indicate possible functions based on how similar the sequences are.
Nice job! What types of experiments would you use to test out if the Hymelc gene has a different role outside of the conjugation phase?
Do you have any ideas why the expression was similar to Rad51 if the function was not similar?
Rad51 is a gene that is known to have a function in DNA damage repair. Hymelc simply had heightened expression during the same time period (conjugation) as Rad51. This information indicated the possibility that Hymelc had involvement in DNA damage repair, which is what was tested in this experiment. Since Hymelc didn’t have expression after DNA damage was induced, it was expected that it had a separate function during conjugation that doesn’t have to do with DNA damage repair.
What made you choose this project specifically?
I have interest in the medical field and have hopes to go to medical school at some point. I feel like developing a better understanding of the mechanisms of DNA damage repair, and the genes/proteins that are involved, is of great importance in terms of the treatments for cancers and countless diseases caused by DNA damage. Also, having more effective treatments by the time I am a doctor will make my life easier, and make my patients happier.
How did you predict the Hymelc gene wouldn’t be involved in DNA damage repair? Is this a commonly researched topic or was there an aspect of the gene that suggested it wouldn’t be successful?
T. Therm cut-up and repair their DNA during conjugation. Since Hymelc (my gene) had heightened expression during the conjugation phase, very similar to Rad51, it was predicted it had an association with DNA damage repair. To answer your next question, DNA damage repair has been studied for decades and has been of much importance in the study of cancers and many other diseases resulting from DNA damage. What is unique here is that we used Tetrahymena Thermophila as the model organism instead of the other commonly studied organisms. Lastly, before performing experiments, there wasn’t any indication that Hymelc wouldn’t have involvement in DNA damage repair. There was only potential in that little gene, and it let me down…
What role do you think the Hymelc gene plays, if it is not included in DNA damage repair?