I'm delighted to say that as of today we have completed a series of videos on the use of model organisms in biomedical research. It has been an epic journey (begun naively some 3 or even 4 years ago). The last film is The Power of Comparative Genomics. The films are all on YouTube is they are useful for your teaching. In due course I'm going to write some "lesson plans" to offer advice on how the videos could be used. In the meantime links and brief descriptions about the main films are below:
"The Power of Comparative Genomics" is the final film in a series focusing on the use of model organisms in medical research and has been produced by Professor Andrew Fry and Dr. Chris Willmott. The videos were part-funded by grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Genetics Education Networking for Innovation and Excellence (GENIE).
The Power of Comparative Genomics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU9ROpm6d70
Genomics is a branch of genetics in which large stretches of DNA, ideally the entire chromosome(s) of an organism are studied.
As the complete series of DNA letters (bases) in the genomes of a growing number of organisms are worked out, it becomes possible to analyse these sequences side-by-side to look for similarities and differences. This method, known as genomics, can be a very powerful way to reveal information about the relationship between different species. It can also have surprising uses in medical research.
In an example discussed in the video, a team led by Susan Dutcher from Washington University were able to find a previously unknown gene causing a human disease by comparing the human genome with the DNA of two different plant species.
Comparative genomics can help to reduce the number of experiments being carried out with more complex species, such as mammals. Use of this approach is therefore making a valuable contribution to scientists' commitment to the 3Rs (the desire to reduce, refine and replace the use of higher animals in research).
Links and descriptions to other films in the series are as follows;
Model Organisms in Biomedical Research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj5QlYlE66w
Research to understand the working of the human body and to develop new medicines frequently involves the use of other species in preliminary experiments. For both ethical and economic reasons, scientists are committed -- as far as is possible -- to refining, reducing and replacing the use of higher animals in research. Using lower species, for example fruit flies and even yeast, as model organisms is an important part of that commitment.
Studying Huntington's Disease Using Model Organisms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqsq7R1Hu4g
Flaviano ("Flav") Giorgini is Lecturer in Mammalian Genetics in the Genetics Department at the University of Leicester, UK. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease,.
In this short film, Dr Giorgini explains how he and his research team use Baker's yeast Saccaromyces cerevisiae and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as model organisms in the quest for understanding of what goes wrong at a cellular level in Huntington's Disease and how this knowledge can be used to develop novel therapeutic compounds.
Model Organisms - Drosophila - Charalambos Kyriacou https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOGeTdcnqFM
Charalambos ("Bambos") Kyriacou is Professor of Behavioural Genetics at the University of Leicester, UK. His research for a number of years has principally focussed on circadian rhythms (biorhythms) in a variety of organisms, but especially the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. His research group also study aggression and mating behaviour. He also collaborates with Dr Flaviano Giorgini in the Genetics Department in research using fly models to study Huntington's Disease.
In this short film, Prof Kyriacou introduces us to the value of Drosophila as a model organism and explains about the importance of biorhythms, including their relevance to human health.
Model Organisms - Yeast - Professor Rhona Borts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7sXzjExSCU
Professor Rhona Borts from the Dept of Genetics at the University of Leicester (UK), discusses her research into the molecular basis of infertility. Rhona explains how budding yeast, an organism more associated with brewing and bread making, can be used to discover interesting new insights into the processes that are going wrong in infertility.
Professor Borts, Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Holder and Director of the Leicester Institute of Genetics and Genome Science in the University of Leicester's world-renowned Department of Genetics has been at the forefront of yeast-based research into understanding how organisms reproduce and pass on their DNA.
Yeast is one of the simplest organisms that can be used to model humans. Although it is a single cell, many genes had exactly the same structure and function as they do in humans.
Best wishes
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