Jarrod is currently engaged in the development of a QPCR assay utilizing TaqMan Fam/TAMRA probes to amplify bisulfite treated DNA so as to determine the methylation state of several cancer markers for the early detection of prostate cancer.
Jarrod is also the system administrator for the two SGI supercomputers along with the network of seven Unix workstations running the most current version of SGI IRIX. These systems are essential for viewing structures, designing molecular models, calculating molecular structures, and the design and inspection of nanodevices. Some of the software used in these endeavors include: CNX, Spartan, Gaussian, Insight II, Midas and Chimera.
These systems have been used for structural calculations such as those found in Clark & Shevchuk et al Methods for the design and analysis of oligodeoxynucleotide-based DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase inhibitors. They have likewise proved useful in producing molecular models for demonstration of nanodevices such as the DNA Y-Junction and Camshaft.
Jarrod has worked on the detection of Human Telomerase RNA in the PC-3 prostate cell line utilizing RT-PCR and the Agilent 2100 Bioanylzer.
Fuller & Clark, et al Use of microfluidics chips for the detection of human telomerase RNA.
Jarrod’s projects have included the development of an EMSA technique utilizing microfludics. M·EcoRII and M·HhaI were purified from transformed E.Coli to near homogeneity and used for the EMSA. Then the DNA Y-Junction and Camshaft were developed as binding scaffolds for DNA methyltransferases to demonstrate that ordered covalent binding of these enzymes to 5-FdC would retard their mobility on a DNA microfluidics chip.
Clark & Shevchuk, et al Mobility-shift analysis with microfluidics chips.
A 1998 graduate of Humboldt State University, Jarrod holds a bachelor’s degree in Cellular Molecular Biology. His expertise is in molecular biology techniques and biochemistry applications, as well as in the detection of infectious diseases. During the last several years he has successfully supported the studies of Dr. Steven Smith by characterizing methyltransferases and investigating their role in DNA damage and repair, as well as the various applications of bionanotechnology in early cancer detection.
