Researcher

Dorien Schepers

Research Expertise:I use zebrafish as a model to study the genetics of human hereditary disorders. Therefore, I introduce mutations, identified in patients, into the zebrafish genome using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. In order to select mutant zebrafish, I use a Zebrafish Embryo Genotyper, which allows me to genotype the fish without sacrificing them. Next, I perform Next Generation Sequencing in order to identify mutant alleles. Mutant fish are raised till adulthood and their offspring is used for phenotyping. Three day old zebrafish larvae are phenotyped in vivo using a light sheet microscope. Since my main interest lies in cardiac arrhythmia, I introduced a genetically encoded voltage sensor in the zebrafish heart. This voltage sensor allows us to visualize the electrical activity in the heart.

Keywords:LIGHT SHEET MICROSCOPY, ZEBRAFISH, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, GENETIC SCREENING, GENETIC DISEASE, GENOTYPE-PHENOTYPE CORRELATION, CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA, HEREDITARY, Medicine

Disciplines:Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Cardiac and vascular medicine, Laboratory medicine, Other clinical sciences, Other health sciences, Other paramedical sciences, Molecular and cell biology, Genetics, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences, Systems biology

Research techniques:Micro-injections in zebrafish eggs, CRISPR/Cas9, Next Generation Sequencing, zebrafish husbandry, in vivo imaging, fluorescence microscopy, light sheet microscopy, qPCR, Sanger sequencing, gel electrophoresis, cloning, Tol2 transposon transgenesis.

Users of research expertise:People interested in Crispr/Cas9, zebrafish in vivo modeling, genetics