Role

Research Fellow: Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life Sciences

I am a postdoctoral research fellow within the Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) working in the laboratory of Dr. Matt Neale investigating the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair during meiosis.

I am currently funded by a Medical Research Council Grant.

Qualifications

2008 B.Sc (Hons) Biology, University of Sussex

2011 Associate of the Higher Education Academy

2012 Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Sussex

Activities

Publications

Garcia V, Phelps SE, Gray S & Neale MJ. (2011) Bidirectional resection of DNA double-strand breaks by Mre11 and Exo1. Nature 2011 Oct 16. doi: 10.1038/nature10515

Conferences attended

2012 - Genome Stability Network, Cambridge

Oral Presentation: Characterising the meiotic recombination checkpoint and its role in double-strand break formation.

2011 - EMBO Meiosis Meeting, Cappacio/Paestum, Italy

Poster Presentation

2011 - Life Sciences Colloquium, University of Sussex

Oral Presentation: Characterising the meiotic recombination checkpoint and its role in double-strand break formation.

2011 - British Meiosis Meeting, University of Sheffield

Oral Presentation: Investigating meiotic recombination using double-strand breaks and break repair products

2011 - British Yeast Group Meeting, Brighton

Poster Presentation

2010 - Biochemistry Postgraduate Research Meeting, University of Sussex

Oral Presentation: Investigating the molecular mechanisms of meiotic recombination

*Winner of the Tom Robert's Memorial Prize for Best Talk

2010 - Second British Meiosis Meeting, University of Leicester

Poster Presentation

2009 - Postgraduate Reesearch Meeting, University of Sussex

Poster Presentation

2009 - British Meiosis Meeting, University of Sussex

2009 - Genome Stability Network, Cambridge

2008 - Genome Damage and Stability Centre Retreat, Alfriston

Poster Presentation

My research is investigating double strand break (DSB) formation and repair in cells undergoing meiosis. By looking at the creation and subsequent repair of DSB, I hope to provide an insight into the events that occur after breaks are made during the initial repair steps. The repair stage may provide valuable information to aid in dealing with cells that have lost the repair ability (leading to cancer and other diseases) or for dealing with infertility and premature miscarriage.

Meiotic Recombination

During meiosis, the cell must halve its chromosome complement to produce gamete cells allowing for sexual reproduction to take place. In order to halve the chromosome complement correctly, the cell undergoes recombination. During recombination, double strand breaks (DSBs) are introduced along the genome and then subsequently repaired. In order for repair to take place, the chromosome uses its homolog as a template, creating recombination events. Recombination events not only aid in pairing homologous chromosomes, but in association with the cohesin complex, provide tension allowing for correct segregation during the first meiotic division.

Using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I am investigating DSB formation and repair during meiosis. Using an assay that detects the Spo11-oligonucleotide complex, a repair intermediate created during the early stages of DSB repair, I am investigating what affect different mutations have on the lifespan of the complex and what affect the mutations have on DSB formation and repair.

In addition, I am also investigating the repair stage that is responsible for creating single stranded DNA, a process known as resection along with proteins that are involved in the meiotic checkpoint.

Molecular Biology

Introduction to Molecular Genetics

Genetics for Ecologists

Cell Regulation and Cancer

Genome Stability, Genetic Diseases and Cancer

I also train new PhD students on their role as tutors

Garcia, Valerie, Phelps, Sarah E L, Gray, Stephen and Neale, Matthew J (2011) Bidirectional resection of DNA double-strand breaks by Mre11 and Exo1. Nature, 479 (7372). pp. 241-244. ISSN 00280836

Garcia, V, Phelps, S E, Gray, S and Neale, M J (2011) Bidirectional resection of DNA double-strand breaks by Mre11 and Exo1. Nature, 478 (7369). pp. 241-244. ISSN 0028-0836