ISAT/Geog Study Abroad In Malta 2006
2006 Field Study Projects
TITLE
Comparison of Maltese and Libyan populations for genetic predisposition to Diabetes type II
ABSTRACT
This research focused on mutations within three genes that are related to the development of Diabetes type II. The three genes studied were Insulin Promoter Factor (IPF), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). A total number of 300 DNA samples; 150 random Maltese and 150 random Libyan were extracted by salting out technique from cord blood and were used in the course of this study. Each group member focused on a different gene with the 300 samples. A variety of different techniques were performed, some of which included DNA extraction, PCR, and single nucleotide polymorphism identification. By using these methods one can determine the allele frequencies for Insulin Promoter Factor (IPF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the Maltese and Libyan general population and test whether there are any significant differences. A comparison was also performed of the Maltese population to samples of Libyan DNA. The IPF and IL-6 could then be progressed to be genotyped in Diabetic patients after this work. Data for 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is already present for Maltese and Libyan populations and hence in this current study the Diabetic patients coming from Libya were studied. The group was thus able to test whether there are significant associations between Libyan Diabetics and both general populations. The research is only a small part of a larger project and the results of the study will be continued by analyzing the frequency of each allele within Maltese and Libyan diabetics.
TEAM
Jason Bliss, ISAT '08
Sheila Nasseri, ISAT '07
Brianna Tokar, ISAT '07
SPONSORS/ADVISORS
Dr. Christian Scerri, Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Malta
Dr. Cindy Klevickis, Associate Professor, ISAT, JMU
Dr. Bob Kolvoord, Professor, ISAT, JMU
FINAL PRESENTATION (PDF)
