COMPARISON OF DNA TRANSFECTION AND MICROCELL-MEDIATED CHROMOSOME TRANSFER FOR DETECTING TRANSFORMING GENES IN HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINES

DNA mediated gene transfection is an important tool for moving and isolating genes from one cell type and putting them into a foreign genetic background. DNA transfection studies have been done routinely in many laboratories to identify and isolate transforming sequences in human tumors and tumor cell lines. A second technique, microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, allows the transfer of small numbers of intact human chromosome from one cell to another. This work was done to compare the efficiency of these two techniques in the transformation of NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells.^ My intent in comparing these two techniques was to see if there was a difference in the transforming capability of DNA which has been purified of all associated protein and RNAs, and that of DNA which is introduced into a cell in its native form, the chromosome. If chromosomal sequences were capable of transforming the 3T3 cells in culture, the method could then be used as a way to isolate the relevant tumorigenic chromosomes from human tumors.^ The study shows, however, that even for those cell lines that contain transforming sequences identified by DNA-mediated gene transfer, those same sequences were unable to transform 3T3 cells when introduced to the cells by somatic fusion of human tumor microcells. I believe that the human transforming sequences in their original genetic conformation are not recognized by the mouse cell as genes which should be expressed; therefore, no noticeable transformation event was selected by this technique. ^

The identification of child abuse in Harris County in 1998

Characteristics of child abuse cases are not well known. In this study I collected data on 70 child abuse cases that were reported to Children's Protective Services in Harris County in 1998. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors in Harris County that lead to the identification of physical and sexual abuse. In order to answer the questions of who, what, where and when relative to the discovery of abuse I applied the same questionnaire (see Appendix) to each of 35 Sexual Abuse case reports and to each of 35 Physical Abuse/Neglect case reports. Answers to the first four questions were arranged by frequency distribution to show the predominant reporter, the 10 most common indicators, the most common locale, and the most frequent timing. Tables of the age, sex, and ethnicity of the children indicate the identity of those whose victimization was most reported. In addition the relationship between the form questions and the characteristics of the children was explored. A comparison of Sexual Abuse cases with Physical Abuse/Neglect cases was conducted and the results were analyzed and recorded in the Tables. ^ Child maltreatment often has negative short and long term effects on children's mental health and development. Suicide, violence, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse and other forms of criminality are frequently child abuse related. Early detection and treatment helps to alleviate the myriad mental and physical ailments that untreated victims present as adults. This translates into medical dollar savings. ^ The long term objectives of my research were to reduce the number of undetected and unreported child abuse cases in Harris County by formulating better educational programs and literature for medical professionals and other personnel who are in contact with children. ^