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Our Science – LGD Website

Laboratory of Genomic Diversity

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In addition to the information presented below, the LGD has an alternative website that can provide you with more detail about their work.

Research

The specific research focus of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity (LGD) is dynamic but can today be classified into five general areas: 1) Identification and characterization of human genetic loci which influence susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, AIDS progression and immune response; 2) Implication of human gene variants and the genomic technologies to address multigenic and multifactorial genetic diseases including cancer (prostate, breast, ocular, liver), and infectious diseases (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, EBV, HTLV-I,II); 3) Comparative gene mapping and applications among mammal species with emphasis on the domestic cat; this includes both mapping and specific gene analyses (MHC, endogenous retrovirus, Y-chromosome genes, CCR); 4) Comparative genetics and phylogenetics of free-ranging populations for taxonomic, adaptive, and hereditary disease inference; 5) Animal model for viral disease of cats (FeLV, FIP, FIV, CDV) and other Felidae species.

The research advances are led by six principal investigators and principal staff scientists with the following specialties: 1) Dr. Cheryl Winkler - cell biology, cohort management, curation of human lymphoblastoid cell lines and other biological resources, and genetic epidemiology; 2) Dr. Michael Smith - genome scans, mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium (MALD), gene discovery in AIDS epidemiology, high throughput genotyping and analysis; 3) Dr. Marilyn Menotti-Raymond - comparative genomics, Feline Genome Project coordinator and forensics expert; 4) Dr. Jill Slattery - phylogenetics, informatics analysis and consulting, Y chromosome genome organization, viral genomics, sequence core coordinator; 5) Dr. Naoya Yuhki - physical genome mapping in feline model, comparative genome structure and organization of mammalian major histocompatibility complex and; 6) Dr. Warren Johnson - population genetics, mammalogy, field ecology and natural history, and gene discovery with free-ranging carnivore species.

The strength of the LGD is in the cooperative interplay of diverse skills and interests of its scientists, who are encouraged to pursue different lines of investigation ranging from fundamental genetic mechanisms to approaches that we hope will be directly applicable to understanding and treating human cancer.

This page was last updated on 4/21/2008.