Shakil Ahmed, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist, Molecular and Structural Biology
Faithful segregation of chromosomes is essential for the maintenance of genome integrity. Mitosis with abnormal chromosome segregation can lead to aneuploidy, a hallmark of cancer and several congenital diseases. Checkpoints are the key events that ensure the faithful cell cycle progression and genomic integrity. We used fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model system to identify the novel components of cell cycle checkpoint and study their role in maintaining the cellular homeostasis using genetics and molecular cell biology approaches. We have more than hundred S.pombe knockout strains in our repository and also have the technology to create new knock out and protein tagging using PCR based gene targeting. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including bacterial and yeast culture facility with biosafety cabinet, phase contrast microscope, dissection microscope for genetic manipulation and electrophoresis/blotting facilities to carry out the cloning, expression and other molecular biology studies. The laboratory also has access to institutional Confocal microscopy, FACS facility for cell cycle analysis, computational and bioinformatics expertise and other facilities that are required for addressing the specific aims of our studies
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