This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Microarrays
What is a Microarray?:
Microarray analysis provides information regarding gene expression. This technique involved opening a cell, isolating the genetic contents inside, identifying the genes that are turned on in the cell at the time that it was opened and generating a list of those genes [1]. A microarray can be preformed on thousands of genes at one time to get a more comprehensive list of expressed genes. GEO database, along with others, can be used to find already conducted microarray experiments and what the results of these experiments were. |
Microarray and CNGA3:
I searched the GEO database for my gene, CNGA3 and found a microarray experiment that was done on mice to observe the link between CNGA3 expression and vision defect phenotypes [2].
Results of CNGA3 microarray experiment: The microarray experiment that was done on CNGA3 found that loss of cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel leads to alterations in light response modulating systems, which I already knew. Through their microarray analysis they found that when CNGA3 is knocked out or mutated, there are over 105 genes that have altered expression. Future research could look at what the functions of these 105 genes are and how they may be related to the phenotype that results from a mutant CNGA3 gene.
I searched the GEO database for my gene, CNGA3 and found a microarray experiment that was done on mice to observe the link between CNGA3 expression and vision defect phenotypes [2].
Results of CNGA3 microarray experiment: The microarray experiment that was done on CNGA3 found that loss of cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel leads to alterations in light response modulating systems, which I already knew. Through their microarray analysis they found that when CNGA3 is knocked out or mutated, there are over 105 genes that have altered expression. Future research could look at what the functions of these 105 genes are and how they may be related to the phenotype that results from a mutant CNGA3 gene.
Resources
[1] http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/microarray/
[2] Ma H, Thapa A, Morris LM, Michalakis S et al. Loss of cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel leads to alterations in light response modulating system and cellular stress response pathways: a gene expression profiling study. Hum Mol Genet 2013 Oct 1;22(19):3906-19. PMID: 23740940
[1] http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/microarray/
[2] Ma H, Thapa A, Morris LM, Michalakis S et al. Loss of cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel leads to alterations in light response modulating system and cellular stress response pathways: a gene expression profiling study. Hum Mol Genet 2013 Oct 1;22(19):3906-19. PMID: 23740940