Date
4-2023
Project Type
URC Presentation
Department
Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences
College or School
COLSA
Class Year
Sophomore
Major
Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Faculty Research Advisor
Matthew MacManes
Language
English
Abstract
The cactus mouse, Peromyscus eremicus, is native to desert environments in southwestern North America and is able to go its whole life without intaking water or urinating. The molecular and physiological mechanisms of this ability are largely unknown. I collaborated with graduate students to build a novel spatial transcriptome of the P. eremicus kidney to gain insight into molecular processes occurring within this organ, which is intimately involved in fluid retention. Full analysis of differential gene expression in specific locations in the kidney was ongoing at the time of this presentation. This research has potential conservational and biomedical impacts as we explore molecular responses to dehydration across desert-adapted and non-desert-adapted species.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Nicholls, Sarah and Kephart, Molly, "Using Spatial Transcriptomics to Understand Renal Function in Desert Rodents" (2023). Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) Student Presentations. 578.
https://scholars.unh.edu/urc/578