Microsatellites are highly unstable genomic regions composed of tandemly repeated identical 1-6 bp sequence motifs. They have a very high mutation rate due to their unique sequence composition, which nearly guarantees that in any eukaryotic cell division, the daughter cells will have some novel microsatellite genotypes distinguishing them from any other cell. As such, small numbers of microsatellite genotypes can provide rough somatic cell lineages in organisms or tumors. Current microsatellite genotyping methods are limited—the most ambitious studies are only able to genotype hundreds of the millions of microsatellite loci in a eukaryotic genome.
I am developing a high throughput microsatellite genotyping pipeline using next-generation sequencing. I designed a novel microsatellite detection algorithm and a microsatellite mapping method, enabling us to infer genotypes and compare them among individuals. I am currently working on experimentally validating our genotypes and developing a strong statistical basis for microsatellite genotype inference.
Once I complete the high throughput microsatellite genotyping pipeline, I intend to develop experimental methods allowing parallel high throughput microsatellite genotyping in single cells from tumors, organs or other sources. Concurrently, I hope to develop lineage and phylogenetic inference methods, enabling us to trace developmental lineages in organisms and track tumor evolution.
Check out my CV
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Mitchell Bekritsky
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
One Bungtown Road
DeMatteis Building, 3219
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
Tel: (516) 367-5067
E-mail: bekritsk <at> cshl.edu
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