Joy Marie Greer

US Patent:

20040197353, Oct 7, 2004

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/479148

Inventors:

Joy Greer - Salt Lake City UT, US
Mario Capecchi - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

A61K009/00

US Classification:

424/400000

Abstract:

This invention provides in vivo and in vitro methods of screening for an agent or a combination of agents that reduces one or more repetitive behaviors, comprising contacting neuronal cells of an animal with a HOXB8 gene mutation with the agent combination of agents to be screened, and determining whether one or more repetitive behaviors of the animal is reduced or whether one or more biochemical correlates of repetitive behaviors is reduced, the reduction in one or more repetitive behaviors or biochemical correlates indicating an agent or combination of agents that reduces repetitive behaviors. The invention also provides method of treating a subject with repetitive behaviors, comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of the agent or combination of agents identified by the screening method. Further provided is a population of animals with a HOXB8 gene mutation, wherein more than 30% of the animals have excessive grooming behaviors and wherein less than 10% of the animals show skeletal defects.

US Patent:

20080295192, Nov 27, 2008

Filed:

Jun 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/759574

Inventors:

Kirk R. Thomas - Salt Lake City UT, US
Kenneth E. Bernstein - Atlanta GA, US
Michaeline Bunting - Salt Lake City UT, US
Joy Greer - Salt Lake City UT, US
Mario Capecchi - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

A01K 67/027
C07H 21/04
C12N 15/63

US Classification:

800 18, 536 231, 435440

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a method for deleting DNA sequences in a tissue specific manner. In one embodiment, DNA sequences are specifically deleted in germline tissue. In a second embodiment, DNA sequences are specifically deleted in desired somatic tissue. The present invention is further directed to a nucleic acid molecule for use in the method. More specifically, a nucleic acid molecule is provide by the present invention which comprises (a) a recombinase site, (b) a tissue-specific promoter, (c) a recombinase gene, (d) a foreign DNA, and (e) a recombinase site. The nucleic acid molecule may further comprise a gene which is desired to be incorporated into and expressed in a transgenic organism. The method can be used in both plants and animals, and has many applications as described herein.