Biochemistry Graduate Seminar
Monday, September 21, 2009
Lecture at 4:30 p.m. in Burt Hall 114
Coffee at 4:15 p.m. in Chalmers 168
Matthew Heerman
Characterization of the RNAi effect in Acyrthospihon pisum
Aphids are highly successful plant feeding insects found in temperate regions around the globe. Numbering in excess of over 4000 different species; aphids are able to cause billions of dollars in crop damage per year. RNAi provides us with a genetic tool to understand the distinctive features of aphid reproduction, development, and feeding. RNAi in pea aphids can be achieved through either the feeding of dsRNAs or the injection of siRNAs. It is our objective to delineate the nature and extent of the RNAi effect in aphids. In doing so we hope to provide protocols to aid in the understanding of the unique pathways contained with in the aphid salivary secretome.
References:
(Mutti et al. 2006) = Journal of Insect Science
(Jaubert-Possamai) = BMC Biotechnology
(Shakesby et al.) = Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology