qPCR preperation
Author: Ryan Rouse | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Fall 2024
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most prominent genetic disorder among inherited neuromuscular diseases. It arises due to the degeneration or mutation of dystrophin proteins and affects 6 out of every 100,000 people. This research uses an alteration of the genome editing technology CRISPR, called CRISPR-DREAM, to upregulate the production of proteins that mimic the physiological properties of dystrophin. Currently, this research is being conducted on C2C12 mouse muscle cells, with the hope of moving to animal models. If CRISPR-DREAM proves practical by upregulating replacement proteins for dystrophin, it can be explored as a gene therapy technology for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.
As the fall semester of my junior year ended, I began exploring potential research fields offered by biomedical engineering professors at the University of Arkansas. With an endless list of research possibilities, I was daunted by finding the research that best fit my interests. I began this exploration by finding the lab focus of each professor within the biomedical engineering department and aligning my interests with theirs. I then sought out peers who were currently researching under the professors whom I became interested in to learn about scheduling, lab culture, and graduate student availability. After this, I found myself most intrigued by the research of Dr. Christopher Nelson. Dr. Nelson’s lab focuses on genome therapy techniques. This field investigates genetic disorders, which I found to align with my interest in medical school.
After performing this background research, I met with Dr. Nelson to express my interest in his field and set up a plan to begin researching under him. He discussed with me the different projects he and his graduate students were currently working on and sent me a few articles to read before I made my decision. After some contemplation, I joined his CRISPR-DREAM team and began planning my contributions to this research.
I first stepped foot in the lab at the beginning of the 2024 fall semester. I could at once tell that this would be unlike any lab experience I have had through my undergraduate years. The procedures I performed were stricter and more precise than the ones I had performed through undergraduate labs. Sanitation and time commitment are essential in this lab, as one trace of contamination or forgetfulness of cell treatment times can lead to weeks of setbacks. Since one mistake could lead to others’ work being affected, I felt more pressure to perform. However, through the culture proven by Dr. Nelson in his lab, I had many people to help me through the pressures I was feeling.
Graduate students Daniel Maxenberger and Shilpi Agrawal have helped me immensely through this process of beginning my research. They took their own time and effort to train me on lab procedures and machinery I had not been exposed to before. They were quick to answer any questions I had and were always willing to lend a helping hand when I needed it. There were numerous times when I was stuck and intimidated by problems in my research, and I was able to persevere through the help of these graduate students.
As I continue to research next semester, I will continue to coordinate my work with Dr. Nelson and his graduate students aiding on my project. I will write a thesis paper regarding my work, and I will construct a poster that can be presented at conferences. I hope that my research propels the work Dr. Nelson is doing on CRISPR-DREAM and I hope it aids future students who plan to conduct similar research in Dr. Nelson’s lab and beyond.