Sara Mueting

Sara is an undergraduate researcher focusing on the population genetics of the black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes.  She developed one black-footed ferret specific microsatellite marker, and genotyped over 250 individuals from captive populations and wild populations at this locus and six others.  Sara’s current research involves the compromised immune system of M. nigripes (they produce 75% less Interleukin-6 (IL-6) than their closest relatives, the Siberian Polecats and domestic ferrets).  Using the known sequence for the IL-6 gene from the dog, she was able to sequence the domestic ferret, black-footed ferret and Siberian Polecat IL-6 gene.  This information will help determine if this lowered production is characteristic of the species and a result of speciation events that occurred over 800,000 years ago, or the result of the dramatic population bottleneck that occurred 20 years ago.


Contact Information:
Sara Mueting
Division of Biology
Kansas State University
Ackert Hall 335
Manhattan, KS 66506
785.532.6413

sam4747@ksu.edu

Sara's CV