Gokul Krishnan

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Genetics with Professional Placement Year
• High-Throughput Generation and Temperature Sensitivity Assessment of Yeast Mutant Libraries

The end of human chromosomes are complex structures that protect the chromosome from damage. Despite the protective role of these structures, the chromosome ends shorten over time. This is of particular relevance to cancer cell progression in which a cell that divides uncontrollably loses its chromosome end structure rapidly and the cells become inviable. Cancer cells, however, find alternative ways to protect their chromosome ends to remain viable. Using budding yeast as a model organism for uncontrolled cell division, we are looking to find new mechanisms by which cancer cells protect their chromosome ends and thereby continue to divide. This summer project successfully replicated part of previous research findings in this area of yeast genetics where critical genes already known to be involved in the maintenance of these chromosome ends are also identified in this project. Further experimentation is needed however to elucidate further the genetic interactions between these genes.

Funding source: BBSRC

Supervisor: Dr Peter Banks