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Undergraduate student projects in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto Summer 2016 1. Sevan HOPYAN (https://lab.research.sickkids.ca/hopyan/) Morphogenesis of mesoderm The Hopyan lab is interested in how embryonic structures are shaped during development. This summer project will focus on cellular control of early branchial arch or limb bud formation in mouse embryos. The focus will be to understand how mesenchymal cells interact in 3D to shape organ primordia. Advanced imaging and computational analysis will be employed. 2. Xi HUANG (http://lab.research.sickkids.ca/huang/) Investigating the function of ion channel in brain tumor Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that regulate cellular bioelectrical properties by controlling ion flux across membranes. Our lab uses multidisciplinary approaches, including Drosophila and mouse genetics, cell biology and electrophysiology, to establish ion channels as novel regulators of brain tumorigenesis. The summer student will work with a senior lab member to study the expression and function of a novel ion channel involved in brain tumor using both cell culture and animal models. 3. Chi-chung HUI (http://lab.research.sickkids.ca/hui/) Gli2 target genes in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis Abnormal activation of Hedgehog signaling in the cerebellum leads to formation of medulloblastoma. By chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing, we have recently identified ~800 direct target genes of Gli2, which is the major transcriptional activator of the Hedgehog pathway, in medulloblastoma. This summer project will involve the molecular characterization of some of these target genes in various mouse models of medulloblastoma as well as the identification of putative transcription factors involved in the co-regulation of Gli2 target genes by computational analysis. 4. Chi-chung HUI (http://lab.research.sickkids.ca/hui/) Irx3 and Irx5 target genes in adipocyte differentiation Our laboratory has recently identified Irx3 and Irx5 as major regulators of energy homeostasis in both the hypothalamus and adipose tissue. Knockout of Irx3 or Irx5 leads to profound defects in adipocyte differentiation. This summer project will involve the molecular characterization and computational analysis of Irx3 and Irx5 target genes in the mouse preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells. 5. Tae-Hee KIM (http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Directory/People/K/tae-hee-kim.html) The role of Hh signalling in gut development and cancer Hh signalling is essential for gut mesenchymal cell proliferation. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we have established a novel mouse model, which exhibit altered Gli 1 transcription factors. These mice show severe defects in gut development. We will analyze further these defects and investigate a potential role for Hh signalling in gastrointestinal caners. 6. Jeehye PARK (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeehye_Park3) Identification of genetic modifiers of human Matrin 3 toxicity in fruit fly Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease causes degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. We do not understand the mechanism of neuronal death. One of the genes whose mutations cause this disease is Matrin 3. In our lab, we will study the function of Matrin 3 and how its mutants lead to toxicity in fruit flies. 7. Michael WILSON (http://www.wilsonlab.org) High-throughput mapping of topoisomerase-induced double stranded DNA breaks This project will use the recently developed GUIDE-seq method to: a) map the location of double stranded DNA breaks in cells treated with topoisomerase poisons. The project will specifically test the hypothesis that the enzyme topoisomerase II beta influences the number and location of these DSBs. 8. Mei ZHEN (http://www.mshri.on.ca/zhen/) Reconstruction of the C. elegans nervous system during development Animals continue to develop postnatally, including the nervous system. C. elegans has a small nervous system, starting from 220 neurons at birth, reaching 302 in adulthood. Such an expansion of the neuron number indicates a change in the neural circuit development. We welcome undergraduate students to take part in a project where we are using electron microscopy to map the anatomic changes of the nervous system during development. The summer project involves data analyses from a complete set of the EM images of a juvenile larva. Students with programming skills in Python are particularly encouraged to apply. 2