News Headlines 2008
Congratulations to our recent graduates.
December 30, 2008
Dr. Julia Frugoli speaks at international conference on Legume Genomics and Genetics.
December 16, 2008
Julia Frugoli presented an invited talk on the work in her lab by former graduate student Dr. Arijit Mukherjee on the lss supernodulation mutant in Medicago truncatula at the IV International Conference on Legume Genomics and Genetics in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico December 7-12. This is a mutation in one of several genes identified by the Frugoli lab as regulating nodule number in legume. While not all plants nodulate, this regulation is a way to study a widely conserved but not well understood communication between the shoots and roots of all growing plants.
Graduate students speak and present at global health symposium.
September 22, 2008
Students from the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry recently presented their research at the Global Health Through Research meeting at the annual symposium at the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases which was held on the campus of the University of Georgia September 19-20. Matt Fowler, a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Kerry Smith presented a talk on "Characterization of a novel PPi dependent acetate kinase from the parasite Entamoeba histolytica". Todd Lyda and Heidi Dodson, graduate students of Dr. Jim Morris, presented posters on " Probing Trypanosoma brucei hexokinase biology using a bioflavonoid inhibitor" and "Exploring regulation of enzyme activity of Trypanosoma brucei hexokinase 1" respectively.
The department welcomes 12 new graduate students this fall.
July 23, 2008
The department of Genetics and Biochemistry will be buzzing this fall as it welcomes 12 new graduate students in the program. With increased support, the department has more than doubled the number of matriculating students from the previous year.
Dr. Kerry Smith invited to speak at Gordon Conference.
July 09, 2008
Dr. Kerry Smith has been invited to speak at the Gordon Research Conference on The Molecular Basis of Microbial One Carbon Metabolism; which will be held July 20-25 at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. This 2008 meeting will be the fourteenth “C-1 meeting” in a twenty-nine year tradition that has fostered an interactive network of researchers who study One-Carbon Metabolism in Eukarya, Archaea, and the Bacteria will include more than 130 people that will include students, postdoctoral research associates, and professors in the diverse areas covered by the meeting (genetics, environmental microbiology, mechanistic enzymology). Dr. Smith will speak on the "Enzymology and Molecular Evolution of Acetyl Activating Enzymes in Methanogens".
Dr. Keith Murphy Welcomed as New Chair.
July 03, 2008
The department of Genetics and Biochemistry welcomes Dr. Keith Murphy as the new chair. Dr. Murphy joins us after serving as a professor at Texas A & M University in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Murphy's area of expertise lies in the area of veterinary medical genetics; with a particular interest in canines.
Dr. Jim Morris Awarded NIH Grant for Study Trypanosome Nutrient Sensing.
June 24, 2008
Dr. Morris has been awarded a NIH grant for the characterization of the role of two hexokinases (HKs) from Trypanosoma brucei in nutrient sensing pathways. African trypanosomiasis, the disease caused by T. brucei, is considered a category 1 disease (emerging or uncontrolled) by the The Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), emphasizing the need for research on this scourge. Understanding the regulation of this essential activity will provide new approaches for much-needed development of therapeutics for this parasite. Read more...