Ecotoxicogenomics

Ecotoxicogenomics for biomarkers of exposure to pollutants in the aquatic indicator species, Daphnia magna

In order to implement the most advanced practices for ensuring water quality, rapid and accurate screens are necessary to identify water bodies and additionally the design and production of new chemicals for manufacturing or agriculture require effective methods to predict their environmental toxicity. We are developing genomic methods that will allow for rapid assessment of water quality using an oligo microarray assay based on the common water bioassay organism, Daphnia magna. We are identifying gene expression signatures of aquatic environmental toxicity with the Daphnia magna microarray.

Development for biosensors for munitions compound based on signature gene expression of fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

The objective of this project is to identify gene biomarkers of exposure to munitions constituents (MCs) and gene markers indicative of toxic mode of action in the organism, Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. The gene biomarkers are examined for their ability to identify and quantitate levels of different MCs in groundwater. Assays will also be examined for ability to discriminate between toxic stress due to non-target pollutants (e.g. agrochemicals, bacterial degradation products of MCs, or petrochemicals) and target MCs.