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UC Davis experts: Basic genetic studies

The following UC Davis faculty members are available to discuss issues related to the basic genetic research. If you need information on a topic not listed, please contact Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu, Patricia Bailey, News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu, or Sylvia Wright, News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu.

M. Judith Charles
Assistant professor of environmental toxicology
(530) 754-8757
mjcharles@ucdavis.edu
Exploring linkages among endocrine disruptors, oxidative DNA mutations and cancer. Specifically studying polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides.

Gino Cortopassi
Associate professor of molecular biosciences
(530) 754-9341:lab
gacortopassi@ucdavis.edu
Studies genetics and biochemistry of mitochondria, the tiny power-plants within cells, and mechanisms by which inherited gene mutations cause mitochondrial dysfunction and neurological disease. Also studies role of mitochondria in programmed cell death and human aging.

Michael Dahmus
Professor of biochemistry
(530) 752-3551
medahmus@ucdavis.edu
Focus on how and when gene transcription is turned on or off in eukaryotic cells. Of special interest is an enzyme called RNA polymerase II, and how the enzyme is regulated by reversible binding to phosphate.

Michael Denison
Professor of environmental toxicology
(530) 752-3879
msdenison@ucdavis.edu
Studies changes in gene expression and cell signaling pathways triggered by exposure to widespread, long-lived, toxic environmental contaminants called halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs), particularly dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Wolf-Dietrich Heyer
Professor of microbiology
(530) 752-3001
wwdheyer@ucdavis.edu
Studies DNA repair mechanisms and DNA checkpoints in the yeast Saccharomyces
cerevisiae, most of which have counterparts in humans. DNA repair and checkpoint genes are implicated in some hereditary diseases and cancers.

Michele Igo
Associate professor of microbiology
(530) 752-8616
mmigo@ucdavis,edu
Studies how cells adjust gene expression in response to environmental signals.

Fumio Matsumura
Professor of environmental toxicology
(530) 752-2725
fmatsumura@ucdavis.edu
Researches the genetic basis for toxic effects of halogenated organic chemicals, such as polychlorinated dioxins, pyrethroids and pesticides such as DDT.

Jodi Nunnari
Associate professor of molecular and cellular biology
(530) 754-9774
jmnunnari@ucdavis.edu
Interested in the DNA of mitochondria, and how it is transmitted between cells. Mitochondria act as power plants within cells, generating energy. They have their own DNA. Genes in mitochondrial DNA are inherited only through the mother.

Martina Newell-McGloughlin
Director, University of California Biotechnology Program, Life Science Informatics Program
(530) 752-1936
mmmcgloughlin@ucdavis.edu
The UC Davis Biotechnology Program promotes and coordinates biotechnology-related research and teaching on the campus. It assists with development of new facilities and serves as an information resource on biotechnology for campus and public. The Life Sciences Informatics Program awards matching grants to UC-based scientists working with companies to develop tools for handling, storing and analyzing data created by genome sequencing.

Martin Privalsky
Professor of microbiology
(530) 752-3013
mlprivalsky@ucdavis.edu
Studies how genes are turned on or off in cancerous and normal cells. Particularly interested in nuclear hormone receptors, proteins that can bind to DNA and alter gene expression.

Carl Schmid
Professor of chemistry
(530) 752-3003
cwschmid@ucdavis.edu
Studies short, repeated DNA sequences, called Alu repeats, that are scattered throughout human genome and thought to be involved in embryonic development by controlling how other genes are turned on or off. They can also be inactivated by environmental stresses.

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Last updated January 22, 2004