E-Mail
BUFFALO, N.Y. Scientists have known for years that mutations in the MLL4 gene can cause Kabuki syndrome, a rare developmental disorder.
But a study published on Jan. 11 in
Nature Communications illuminates new details regarding how this occurs. (Images are available by contacting Charlotte Hsu in UB Media Relations at chsu22@buffalo.edu.)
The research suggests that MLL4 controls the production of neurons that secrete growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Mice without working copies of the MLL4 gene in this area had stunted growth and markedly fewer GHRH neurons. Mice with only one functioning copy of the gene had similar problems.
University at Buffalo
Lora Park, associate professor of psychology
University at Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lora Park, an associate professor of psychology in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, has received a $501,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop and implement strategies to improve success for college students in STEM gateway courses, such as introductory calculus.
“This project focuses on the use of instructor feedback as a potentially transformative, relatively low-cost instructional tool to improve the undergraduate STEM experience, especially for underrepresented students,” says Park, principal investigator and director of UB’s Self and Motivation Lab.