| Affiliations: | |
| Project Leader: | Amanda Vorpahl vorpahl@medicine.tamhsc.edu |
| Faculty Mentor: | David Threadgill, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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Summer 2016 (complete) |
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Team Size:
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2 (Team Full) |
| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Team Needs:
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Previous laboratory experience is not required, and all science-related majors are invited to apply. We are aiming to automate the genotyping process as much as possible, so a biomedical engineer major who is interested in working on this aspect of the project is encouraged to apply. |
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Description:
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We are investigating the function of different genes and the mechanisms underlying sex-specific effects of diet. One aspect of this project will investigate the role of Oprd1, a gene that has been previously linked to differential ethanol consumption, in regulating ethanol metabolism in the liver. Techniques to surgically denervate the liver will be developed and used to investigate whether OPRD1 activity in the central nervous system regulates liver metabolism. The second aspect will be to perform oophorectomy and orchiectomy to determine the role of sex hormones in regulating sex-specific responses to dietary interventions. Follow-up functional studies will be performed in the mice. |