This is a guest post by Sarah Marshall, originally published in the Undiagnosed Disease Network’s Participant Engagement and Empowerment Resource (UDN PEER).
In April 2021, I had the pleasure of interviewing Drs. Hugo Bellen [2021 GSA President] and Shinya Yamamoto about their work at the Model Organisms Screening Center (MOSC) at Baylor College of Medicine, which has been part of the UDN since 2015.
Dr. Bellen has a PhD in Genetics and Dr. Yamamoto has a PhD in Developmental Biology. Both also hold PhD’s in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bellen began his career as a scientist at the Baylor College of Medicine in 1989. He is a world-renowned fruit fly (Drosophila) genetics researcher whose work has been foundational to the understanding of the nervous system for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS, among others. Dr. Yamamoto, a protégé of Dr. Bellen, is the co-director of the MOSC of the UDN, and the overarching goal of his research is to use fruit flies to identify new, rare human genetic variants associated with neurological disorders. Beyond the parameters of the UDN, the MOSC team works to deeply understand the impact of different genetic changes on human health so that treatments can be found.
As a partner with the UDN, the MOSC scientists become involved when a genetic change has been identified through a patient’s exome or genome sequencing, but it is not clear whether this change is actually related to the patient’s symptoms. Because humans share a surprisingly significant portion of their genes with fruit flies, the MOSC team often can modify a fly’s genome with the same mutation seen in the patient to see if similar symptoms are seen in the fly as in the patient. For example, if the patient has symptoms that impact the use of his or her legs, the MOSC scientists can modify the gene in the fruit fly to see if the same genetic change affects the use of the fly’s legs.
While many scientists work “behind the curtain” and have little interaction with patients and families, these two prolific researchers are working to change that paradigm. The personal conversations and stories keep them intensely motivated to do the work that they do and also helps to keep patients and families up to date about the status of their case. The MOSC is a wonderful resource for the UDN, and part of what makes the network a unique resource for patients and families with undiagnosed diseases.
About the Author:
UDN PEER member Sarah Marshall lives in Eden Prairie, MN with her four daughters; her youngest, 12-year-old Phoebe, is a UDN participant. As an experienced mom with an advanced degree in social work, she spends a great deal of her personal and professional time doing advocacy work.
Guest posts are contributed by members of our community. The views expressed in guest posts are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by the Genetics Society of America. If you'd like to write a guest post, e-mail communications@genetics-gsa.org.
View all posts by Guest Author »Read more in
-
In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation
Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…
-
Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…
-
Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024
You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…
-
Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience
A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…
-
TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners
GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024. Don’t miss the opportunity…
-
Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards
In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…
-
Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research
In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…
-
New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026
We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…
-
Parrot plumage study aids breeders and endangered natural populations
Yellow coloration is maladaptive in the wild but prized by breeders. People have long been fascinated with birds, which exhibit one of the widest ranges of coloration among vertebrates. Parrots, in particular, have captivated humans by their ability to mimic human speech and spectacular plumage. Brightly colored feathers are used primarily to attract mates, intimidate…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Gilmour
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah GilmourMultimedia SubcommitteeStowers Institute for Medical Research Research Interest Questions of evolution have always fascinated me. I am extremely fortunate to be starting out my research career in a…