Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog

Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog.

Nature, Vol. 438, No. 7069. (8 December 2005), pp. 803-819, doi:10.1038/nature04338

by Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Claire M. Wade, Tarjei S. Mikkelsen, et al.

I use this paper in my graduate genetics course because it is the third complete mammalian genome. Being the third genome allowed the first application of a range of comparative methods, revealing several aspects of mammalian genome structure for the first time.  The paper illustrates the methods of comparative genomics, and the application of population genetics to genomics and vice versa. 

Functions of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway in Drosophila development.

Functions of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway in Drosophila development.

PLoS genetics, Vol. 2, No. 12. (29 December 2006), doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0020180

by Mark M. Metzstein, Mark A. Krasnow

I use this this paper in my graduate genetics course to illustrate techniques for analysis of gene expression in Drosophila.  It's also a very nice example of serendipity, whereby mutations in a set of genes for a fundamental process (nonsense-mediated decay) were discovered while looking for something else entirely.  

SCNM1, a putative RNA splicing factor that modifies disease severity in mice

SCNM1, a putative RNA splicing factor that modifies disease severity in mice.

Science (New York, N.Y.), Vol. 301, No. 5635. (15 August 2003), pp. 967-969, doi:10.1126/science.1086187

by David A. Buchner, Michelle Trudeau, Miriam H. Meisler

I use this paper in my graduate genetics course.  It describes the use of inbred strains to map and molecularly identify genes and illustrates a case of strain-specific phenotypes and genetic interactions.  It simultaneously illustrates the power of working with inbred strains and the caveat that phentypes can be strain-specific.

Novel and expanded roles for MAPK signaling in Arabidopsis stomatal cell fate revealed by cell type-specific manipulations

Novel and expanded roles for MAPK signaling in Arabidopsis stomatal cell fate revealed by cell type-specific manipulations.

The Plant cell, Vol. 21, No. 11. (November 2009), pp. 3506-3517, doi:10.1105/tpc.109.070110

by Gregory R. Lampard, Wolfgang Lukowitz, Brian E. Ellis, Dominique C. Bergmann

I use this paper in my graduate genetics course. It describes a genetic analysis of stomatal cell fate using epistasis analysis. The paper illustrates epistasis analysis, methods for ectopic expression (in this case, cell type-specific expression of constitutively active and dominant negative alleles of kinases) and a bit of plant biology.

A DNA integrity network in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A DNA integrity network in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cell, Vol. 124, No. 5. (10 March 2006), pp. 1069-1081, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.12.036

by Xuewen Pan, Ping Ye, Daniel S. Yuan, Xiaoling Wang, Joel S. Bader, Jef D. Boeke

I use this paper in my graduate genetics course.  It describes a global screen for synthetic defects involving DNA integrity, which reveals a network of 16 functional modules.  The paper illustrates screens based on genetic interactions (in this case, synthetic lethality or fitness defects) and the systems biology used to evaluate the results of such a screen.  It also illustrates the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system.

A whole-genome RNAi Screen for C. elegans miRNA pathway genes

A whole-genome RNAi Screen for C. elegans miRNA pathway genes.

Current biology : CB, Vol. 17, No. 23. (4 December 2007), pp. 2013-2022, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.10.058

by Devin H. Parry, Jinling Xu, Gary Ruvkun

I use this paper in my graduate genetics course. It describes a whole-genome screen of C. elegans using RNA interference, provides an example of whole-genome parallel reverse genetic screens, and illustrates both the microRNA biosynthesis pathway and a bit of C. elegans biology.