Allison M. Bagwell, B.S.
Graduate Student
Molecular Genetics Graduate Program
Center for Human Genomics

B.S., 1999, Biology, Presbyterian College

Graduate Project

The Role of Regulatory Elements in Diabetogenic Gene Expression on Chromosome 20

The overall goal of my thesis project is to evaluate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) candidate genes that have been mapped to human chromosome 20. Our hypothesis is that comparative sequence analysis and functional analysis will identify regulatory elements controlling gene expression within the candidate gene hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha (HNF-4 ), thereby providing insight into the role(s) this gene may play in the development of T2DM. We propose to elucidate the role(s) through the execution of the following specific aims:

1.      Identifying conserved sequences between the 5'-flanking noncoding region of human and mouse orthologous genes;

2.      Identifying critical regions within the evolutionarily conserved sequences that are necessary for gene expression and regulation;

3.      Scanning Caucasian T2DM samples for sequence variants within the conserved noncoding regions; and

4.      Evaluating the impact of sequence variants within the conserved regions on the regulation of gene expression.

Successful comparative sequence analysis and functional analysis of the noncoding regions of the type 2 diabetes mellitus positional candidate HNF-4 will enable us to identify regions of sequence conservation and to determine whether these conserved sequences affect gene expression and gene regulation in the diabetic phenotype.

Personal Background
I graduated from Presbyterian College in 1999, receiving a B.S. degree in Biology and English. As an undergraduate student, I gained research experience by working each summer at the Greenwood Genetic Center J.C. Self Research Institute. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I worked as a laboratory technician at the Greenwood Genetic Center (June 1999-July 2000) before matriculating as a graduate student in August 2000.

Selected Publications and Presentations
Provided upon request