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Date: 3 Jun 91 13:06:29 GMT
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                     MRC RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP


          MOLECULAR GENETICS OR CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY


Applications  are  invited  for  a  research  studentship  in one of the
following fields:

Molecular  analysis  of  DNA repair and mutagenesis in human cells (Dr J
Thacker);

The  majority of damage to DNA is repaired correctly by specific enzymes
in cells, but this process can go wrong  to  give  mutations.    We  are
particularly  interested  in  the formation of deletions in cells, since
these are the major form  of  mutation  induced  by  radiations  in  the
environment.    Deletion  formation  is being characterized by molecular
analysis of breakpoints in genes of primary human  cells,  but  we  have
also  observed  deletion formation in plasmid DNA molecules treated with
human cell-free extracts.  Extracts from a cell line  derived  from  the
human  disorder ataxia-telangiectasia, characterized by radiosensitivity
and cancer-proneness, yields a higher frequency of deletions than normal
cell extracts.

Chromosome imprinting (Dr Bruce Cattanach/Dr Jo Peters);

Recent  studies  in the mouse have clearly established that maternal and
paternal copies  of  certain  genes,  or  chromosome  regions,  are  not
functionally   equivalent.   For   example   duplication  of  particular
chromosomes from one parent with loss of the homologue  from  the  other
parent  can  cause  embryonic  lethality  and  problems  with growth and
viability.  This phenomenon implies that parental  chromosomes  must  be
marked,  or  imprinted,  as they pass through the parental germ lines so
that  they  are  distinguishable  in  the  zygote.    To  date  specific
developmental  anomaly  or  lethality  has been associated with parental
imbalance in each of 9 chromosome regions in the mouse  and  it  is  now
clear  that  imprinting  is  a  general  mammalian  phenomenon and is of
considerable relevance to human medicine.  The bulk of current  evidence
suggests  that growth factors are implicated.  The project will comprise
expression studies aimed at identifying  genes  subject  to  imprinting,
studying   their   effects  during  development  and  investigating  the
mechanism  controlling  the  differential  expression  of  maternal  and
paternal   copies  of  genes.    There  are  many  links  with  research
departments in Oxford which is 15 miles away.

The  studentship  is  available for 3 years from October 1991.  Standard
MRC stipend applies (#5,591 pa) plus up to #1,500 for laboratory duties.

Please  send  applications,  as  quickly  as  possible, to the Personnel
Officer, MRC Radiobiology Unit, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon  OX11 0RD.    Tel:
0235-834393 ext 235 for informal enquiries.