A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience

Authors

Cory J. Evans, University of California, Los AngelesFollow
John M. Olson, University of California, Los Angeles
Bama Charan Mondal, University of California, Los Angeles
Pratyush Kandimalla, University of California, Los Angeles
Ariano Abbasi, University of California, Los Angeles
Mai M. Abdusamad, University of California, Los Angeles
Osvaldo Acosta, University of California, Los Angeles
Julia A. Ainsworth, University of California, Los Angeles
Haris M. Akram, University of California, Los Angeles
Ralph B. Albert, University of California, Los Angeles
Elitzander Alegria-Leal, University of California, Los Angeles
Kai Y. Alexander, University of California, Los Angeles
Angelica C. Ayala, University of California, Los Angeles
Nataliya S. Balashova, University of California, Los Angeles
Rebecca M. Barber, University of California, Los Angeles
Harmanjit Bassi, University of California, Los Angeles
Sean P. Bennion, University of California, Los Angeles
Miriam Beyder, University of California, Los Angeles
Kush V. Bhatt, University of California, Los Angeles
Chinmay Bhoot, University of California, Los Angeles
Aaron W. Bradshaw, University of California, Los Angeles
Tierney G. Brannigan, University of California, Los Angeles
Boyu Cao, University of California, Los Angeles
Yancey Y. Cashell, University of California, Los Angeles
Timothy Chai, University of California, Los Angeles
Alex W. Chan, University of California, Los Angeles
Carissa Chan, University of California, Los Angeles
Inho Chang, University of California, Los Angeles
Jonathan Chang, University of California, Los Angeles
Michael T. Chang, University of California, Los Angeles
Patrick W. Chang, University of California, Los Angeles
Stephen Chang, University of California, Los Angeles
Neel Chari, University of California, Los Angeles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular trafficking. Lastly, the participation of students in this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) correlated with increased learning gains across several areas, as well as increased STEM retention, indicating that authentic, student-driven research in the form of a CURE represents an impactful and enriching pedagogical approach.

Original Publication Citation

Cory J Evans, et al., A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience, G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, Volume 11, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 1–23, https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaa028

Digital Commons @ LMU & LLS Citation

Evans, Cory J.; Olson, John M.; Mondal, Bama Charan; Kandimalla, Pratyush; Abbasi, Ariano; Abdusamad, Mai M.; Acosta, Osvaldo; Ainsworth, Julia A.; Akram, Haris M.; Albert, Ralph B.; Alegria-Leal, Elitzander; Alexander, Kai Y.; Ayala, Angelica C.; Balashova, Nataliya S.; Barber, Rebecca M.; Bassi, Harmanjit; Bennion, Sean P.; Beyder, Miriam; Bhatt, Kush V.; Bhoot, Chinmay; Bradshaw, Aaron W.; Brannigan, Tierney G.; Cao, Boyu; Cashell, Yancey Y.; Chai, Timothy; Chan, Alex W.; Chan, Carissa; Chang, Inho; Chang, Jonathan; Chang, Michael T.; Chang, Patrick W.; Chang, Stephen; and Chari, Neel, "A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience" (2021). Biology Faculty Works. 82.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/bio_fac/82