Jennifer C. Davey, B.A. Zoology, M.Ed.

Research Assistant
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
510 Remsen
Dartmouth Medical School
Hanover, NH 03755
USA

Tel: 603-650-1379
Fax: 603-650-1129
E-mail: Jennifer.C.Davey@Dartmouth.edu

Expertise: Molecular Biology and Physiology

Research: Jennifer is currently studying aberrant gene expression in Daphnia pulex (water fleas) resulting from low-level cadmium exposure. Daphnia are widely studied by Ecologists but little is known about their molecular biology. Few genes have been isolated from Daphnia so techniques like differential display and subtractive hybridization are being employed. These techniques are used to isolate groups of genes whose expression is affected by cadmium exposure and once isolated, individual genes can be further characterized. Once characterized, the expression of these genes will be used as a biomarker indicating the presence of significant levels of cadmium in an ecosystem.

Another area of interest is the study of low-dose arsenic affects on certain endocrine functions. Recent studies have shown that arsenic can act as an endocrine disrupting chemical and she is now exploring which endocrine factors may be involved.