Article Title
Mentor
Heather J. Evans-Anderson, Ph.D.
Major
Biology
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
The chordate, Ciona intestinalis, has become an excellent model organism for the study of cardiac development. C. intestinalis is a member of the phylum Tunicata, which is the sister phylum to vertebrates. Since both phyla share a common ancestor, an orthologous gene has been identified in C. intestinalis and vertebrates, the FOX0 transcript. Multiple reasons makes Ciona intestinalis an interesting model organism. For instance, ease of access to the animal, close relation to vertebrates, and mapping of the genetic code of Ciona intestinalis makes this an excellent model organism. The FOX0 family of transcripts plays an important role in cardiac, muscular, and neural development in humans. Humans have four copies of the transcript while Ciona intestinalis only has one. However, the function of FOX01 in Ciona intestinalis is unknown. This study aims to investigate the function of FOX0 transcripts in C. intestinalis by incorporating transgenic DNA into embryos using fertilization, dechorionation, electroporation and the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
Recommended Citation
McMullen, Nicole and Evans-Anderson, Heather J.
(2017)
"Targeted Mutagenesis of FOX0 Transcripts Using the Model Organism Ciona intestinalis Utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 System,"
The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin: Vol. 3, Article 7.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/wmrb/vol3/iss1/7
