Biomedical Research as a Biomedical Research as a Career and a Way of LifeCareer and a Way of Life

Rose Deeter O’ConnorRose Deeter O’Connor

How I got here…How I got here… Interested in biology and medicine for many Interested in biology and medicine for many

years.years.

Received a microscope as a gift in 6Received a microscope as a gift in 6thth grade. grade.

Finished high school with a interest in biology Finished high school with a interest in biology and chemistry.and chemistry.

Received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University.Engineering from Lehigh University.

Decided that I wanted to be more “hands-on” Decided that I wanted to be more “hands-on” and began graduate school in Biological and began graduate school in Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware.Sciences at the University of Delaware.

Where I go when I leave the Where I go when I leave the classroom…classroom…

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://myweb.dal.ca/csinal/Tissue%2520Culture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://myweb.dal.ca/csinal/Facilities.html&h=289&w=432&sz=52&hl =en&start=12&tbnid=oFGAXNQ_1UEicM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtissue%2Bculture%2Blab%2B%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

Main Lab

Cell Culture Facility

2 years

Regression

6 years

Pseudostationary

15 months

Plateau in development Rett SyndromeRett Syndrome

Reading the Genes in Bone-Forming Reading the Genes in Bone-Forming CellsCells

Mecp2

Genes important for regulatingbone formation

Which genes are being regulated by the Mecp2 protein?

Genes important for regulating bone formation

Mecp2

Osteoporotic Bone Structure

28 Day Old Mecp2 -/y Mouse 28 Day Old Mecp2 -/y Mouse

Normal Mice Mice Without Mecp2

8 Week Old C57BL/6J Littermates

Loss of Mecp2 leads to reduced Loss of Mecp2 leads to reduced skeletal size and kyphosisskeletal size and kyphosis

SummarySummary

Loss of Mecp2 leads to differences in the Loss of Mecp2 leads to differences in the skeletal size and shape of miceskeletal size and shape of mice

Primary dysregulation leads to changes on Primary dysregulation leads to changes on the molecular levelthe molecular level

Questions remain:Questions remain:– Which bone formation genes are regulated by Which bone formation genes are regulated by

Mecp2?Mecp2?– What happens to bone formation when these What happens to bone formation when these

genes are dysregulated?genes are dysregulated?

Where I am going…Where I am going…

Will pursue a traditional biomedical research Will pursue a traditional biomedical research post-doctoral fellowship.post-doctoral fellowship.

Interested in either career in research or in Interested in either career in research or in promoting the importance of scientific research.promoting the importance of scientific research.

Want to stay involved with science education at Want to stay involved with science education at the high school and college level.the high school and college level.