Projects
New Insights on Human Y-chromosomal Variation for Forensic Familial Searching KU Leuven
Forensic DNA analysis has become the gold standard in the justice system to identify the perpetrator from biological traces found at the crime scene. Nevertheless, offender identification through standard DNA analysis can be challenging in mixed biological samples from sexual assault or murder cases. With a male perpetrator, as in the majority of the cases, it is possible to genotype for the male specific Y-chromosome (chrY). This analysis ...
Nanoparticles for Electron Emission Cancer Tumor Treatment. KU Leuven
The goal of this thesis was to study silica and gold nanoparticles from synthesis to characterization to biomedical application. Nanoparticles (NPs) are typically defined as materials with at least one of its dimension in the range of 1 nm to 100 nm. In this way the NP will behave like a molecule and like bulk material. NPs have unique electronic, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties. Because of these unique properties, nanoparticles ...
GENETIC MODULATORS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO KU Leuven
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most common hemoglobinopathy worldwide. Developing countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suffer a heavy burden and the disease-related mortality remains high, up to 50% to 90% before five years of age. Factors that contribute to high mortality include delayed diagnosis due to the scarcity of appropriate laboratory infrastructure, poor access to adequate medical care due to limited financial ...
Insights into the genetic control of plant architecture in apple KU Leuven
Apple (Malus x domestica) is one of the most important fruit crops in the world and growers are continuously seeking to improve fruit production and fruit quality while reducing management costs. Yield, homogeneity of fruit quality and the time needed for young trees to reach full production are influenced by the tree’s architecture. Tree architecture is currently controlled through orchard management practices, but these ...
The role of DNA satellites in bacterial evolution. University of Antwerp
Ethanol tolerance engineering in ethanologenic bacteria. KU Leuven
Bioethanol is considered as a valuable, green fuel-alternative because greenhouse gas emission can be significantly reduced. Moreover, the polymer industry shows great interest in this alcohol as a precursor molecule for the production of a wide variety of plastics, including Plexiglas (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Because of its high demand in the industrial and transport sector, it ...
Study of the genetic variations in the TMPRSS2 control regions and their effects on prostate cancer development . KU Leuven
One of the most surprising findings in the prostate cancer field over the last decade was that in 50% of cases, cells have undergone a specific genomic reorganization in which the control region of the TMPRSS2 gene is fused to the protein‐coding part of the oncogenic ets‐related gene (ERG). In this study, we will determine the mechanisms by which the TMPRSS2 control region establishes androgen‐controlled and prostate‐specific gene expression ...