Michelle F. Gaudette
Lecturer
Molecular Biology, Gene Regulation of Development

Education

B.A., Washington University in St. Louis -1980
Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University - 1988

Research Interests

I am interested in control of gene expression during development. I have worked in collaboration with Jan A. Pechenik, Ph.D., of the Biology Department, and sponsored three Hughes summer projects and one independent semester research project (using a different model system). Using Crepidula fornicata, a marine mollusk, as the experimental system, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying major developmental transitions – specifically, the transition from larva to juvenile/adult. Our initial experiments, carried out with the assistance of a Hughes Summer Scholar, demonstrated that a 2-hour exposure to 32oC promoted a significant increase in metamorphosis over control treatments. To investigate whether the heat-shock family of genes are actually involved in metamorphosis, a second Hughes student and I created a C. fornicata genomic library in lambda phage. The following summer, with the help of another summer fellow, I screened this genomic library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genes that contained heat shock response element (hre) sequences. These are conserved control sequences located upstream of all heat shock genes.

Undergraduate Projects Sponsored:

1997, J. Michael Lipkin, Bio 94, "The effects of crowding on the metamorphosis of Capitella capitata larvae"

1998, Janet L. Lowther, Bio 194, "The role of heat shock as an inducer of metamorphosis in the slipper snail, Crepidula fornicate"

1999, M. Molly Baker, "Constructing a genomic library of the slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicate"

2000, Pooja Sawhney, "Screening a Crepidula fornicate genomic library for genes regulated by the heat shock element (hse)"

I have also collaborated with Kelly McLaughlin, studying the expression of heat shock genes in the frog, Xenopus laevis. My aim is to characterize the role of heat shock genes during early vertebrate development. Preliminary results suggest that at least 2 heat shock genes may be expressed during early development both constitutive and inducibly, in contrast to previously published reports. I plan to repeat these studies, to performing a time-line study of gene expression, and to pursue some functional assays for the gene products.

Courses

Bio 41: General Genetics, Co-instructor (Fall 2009)
Bio 260: Teaching Biology: Pedagogy and Practice, Co-instructor (Fall 2008)
Bio 13L: Cells & Organisms, Lab coordinator (1995-present), Lab instructor (Fall 1997)
Bio 13LWW: Cells & Organisms Optional Writing Workshop, Instructor (2007-present)
Bio 152: Biochemistry & Cellular Metabolism, Co-instructor (1995-present)
Bio 50: Experiments in Molecular Biology, Co-instructor (1996-present)
Bio 3: Fundamentals of Biology, Course instructor (2004-2006)
Exp 0009D: Biology & the Law Faculty mentor & freshman advisor (2002)
Exp 53: Experiments in Genetics, Lab coordinator & instructor (2001-2003)
Exp 53WW: Experiments in Genetics, Optional Writing Workshop, Instructor (2003)
Bio 41/40/45: General Genetics Lab, Lab coordinator and instructor (1995-2000)
Bio 46A: Cell Biology, Instructor (First summer session, 1995)

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