Jessica Moore
Jessica Moore
Assistant Professor
Contact
Office: BSF 0133
Phone: 813/974-1081
Email:
Education
Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin 1994.
Post Doctoral Fellow, Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute, Pennsylvania State
University College of Medicine.
Instructor, Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University
College of Medicine.
Research
Molecular genetics and biology of cancer, using the small freshwater zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system.
Current Interests:
My research focuses on the fundamental biological processes that maintain the integrity
of the genetic material present in all cells of an organism. The modern theory of
cancer is that it begins with changes to common cellular components resulting in
the accumulation of mutations that lead to the overproliferation and inappropriate
growth known as a tumor. As a post-doctoral fellow I generated several distinct
lines of zebrafish that carry genomic instability mutations. The effects of these
mutations can be studied from the early embryonic stages of development to the formation
of tumors in adult zebrafish. Adults that carry only one mutant copy of the genomic
instability genes seem to have a dramatically increased susceptibility to cancer
by developing a variety of tumors, with similar pathology to that seen in humans!
By studying what may be a group of novel genes and how mutations in them can alter
a vertebrate organism from embryo to adult, we hope to contribute to our understanding
of genetic cancer. Aspects of developmental biology, genetics, genomics, mutagenesis,
pathology and tumor biology are incorporated into these studies.
Current Courses
Recent Publications
Moore, J.L., Breneman, C., Mohideen, M. and Cheng, K.C. (2004) Zebrafish genomic instability mutants and implications for cancer susceptibility. Genetics, Submitted.
Moore, J.L., Gestl, E. E. and Cheng, K.C. (2004) Mosaic eyes, genomic instability mutants and cancer susceptibility. In “Zebrafish—Cellular and Developmental Biology”. H. Detrich, M. Westerfield, L. Zon, eds. Methods in Cell Biology, Elsevier Press, San Diego, CA. Invited book chapter. In press.
Mohideen, M-A, P.K, Beckwith, L.B., Tsao-Wu, G.S., Moore, J.L., Wong, A.C.C., Chinoy, M.R. and Cheng, K.C. (2003) Histology-based screen for zebrafish mutants with abnormal cell differentiation. Developmental Dynamics, 28: 414-423.
Clarke, L.E., Cheng, K., Beckwith, L.G. Moore, J.L., Wang, X. and Boyer, P.J. (2002) Expression in adult zebrafish of antigens detected by immunomarkers commonly used in diagnostic pathology laboratories: Prelude to evaluation of spontaneously arising and induced neoplasms. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 61 (5):112.
Gerhard, G.S., Kauffman, E.J., Wang, X., Stewart, R., Moore, J.L., Kasales, C.J., Dimedenko, E. and Cheng, K.C. (2002) Life spans and senescent phenotypes in two strains of Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Experimental Gerontology, 37: 1055-1068.
Moore, J.L., Aros, M., Steudel, K.G., and Cheng, K.C. (2002) Fixation and decalcification of adult zebrafish for histological, immunocytochemical, and genotypic analysis. Biotechniques 32: 296-298.
Beckwith, L.G., Moore, J.L., Tsao Wu, G.S., Harshbarger, J.C., and Cheng, K.C. (2000) Ethylnitrosourea induces neoplasia in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Laboratory Investigation 80: 379 385.
Mohideen, M-A, Moore, J.L. and Cheng, K.C. (2000) Centromere-linked microsatellite markers in zebrafish. Genomics 67: 102-106.
Gestl, E.E., Kauffman, E.J., Moore, J.L., and Cheng, K.C. (1997) New conditions for generation of gynogenetic half-tetrad embryos in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Journal of Heredity 88: 76 79.
Cheng, K.C. and J.L. Moore (1997) Genetic dissection of vertebrate processes in the zebrafish: a comparison of uniparental and two generation screens. Biochemistry and Cell Biology 75: 525 533.