This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
Research Tools
Model Organisms
The term model organism refers to a non-human species that has been widely studied and has particular experimental advantages, such as being easy to maintain and breed in a laboratory setting. Research performed on model organisms can provide information about other species that are more difficult to study directly, including humans (1). There are a variety of model organism databases that allow for homolog screening to determine good model organisms for specific experiments:
Gene Expression Analysis
Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Profiles database contains gene expression profiles established from GEO DataSets. GEO DataSets store original submitter-supplied records and DataSets (2). GEO Profiles display the expression of a single gene across all samples in a data set consisting of numerous experiments.
Chemical Genetics
Chemical genetics involves the use of small molecule assays to determine chemical-protein interactions. These small molecules are often collected in chemical libraries. There are two different types of small molecule screens: target-oriented libraries and diversity-oriented library. Target-oriented libraries are based off of one general small molecule structure. This general structure is minimally manipulated to produce a collection of very similar small molecules. Diversity-oriented libraries include a variety of small molecules and are used when there is little confidence in knowing what general structure will favor chemical-protein interactions. The ultimate goal of chemical genetics is to develop a drug that can influence protein function. Unfortunately, there are no small molecules currently known to bind to GATA2.
References:
1) Twyman, Richard (2002). The Human Genome: http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_wtd020803.html
2) Genetics 564 - Lab 5, Gene Expression & Transcriptome Analysis: http://genetics564.weebly.com/gene-expression-analysis.html
Images (in order of appearance):
1) http://lsernafsi2013.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/6/0/21600138/6244045_orig.jpg
2) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Drosophila_repleta_lateral.jpg
3) https://www.modernpest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Photo2-Mouse-2.jpg
4) http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/artsands/Biological-Sciences/faculty-staff/hoerter/zebrafishcutout_edited-1.jpg
5) http://gregorylab.bio.upenn.edu/annoj/Gouache-arabidopsis-thaliana.jpg
6) http://www.brandon-‐russell.com/images/dos_2.pn
7) http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~phgroup/images/research/Meyer_wedges.jpg