Lauren
B. French, Ph.D.
Assistant
Professor of Biology & Neuroscience, Allegheny College
Research Interests
The best way to describe my research interests in general terms is Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. I am interested in exploring what makes individual neurons unique from one another, and how they "talk" to each other to transmit information in the nervous system. More specifically, I look at how the molecular structure of ion channels and receptors relates to their functions electrophysiologically. I do this by studying the genes that code for ion channels and receptors, as well as injecting the genes into Xenopus laevis oocytes (frog eggs) to examine their electrical "personalities". There are two major types of research projects going on in my lab.
The first are cloning projects, such as to clone a dopamine receptor from the spiny lobster genome (the lobster is a great model system for studying neural networks- and mighty tasty too). After such a gene sequence is determined, then the protein can be characterized (e.g. in oocytes, or by mapping the expression of the gene in neurons).
The
second project involves the oocyte expression system. There is a genus
of hunting snails whose venom is very complex and potent, acting solely
on the prey's nervous system. I would like to screen some of the components
of the venom to see what kinds of ion channels or receptors they block.