Dr Michael Jackson
Senior Lecturer
- Email: M.S.Jackson@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 191 241 8677
- Fax: +44 191 241 8666
- Address: Institute of Human Genetics
Newcastle University
International Centre for Life
Central Parkway
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3BZ
Research Interests
I have two main areas of research:
Human Genome Organisation and Evolution
Although the human genome sequence is nearing completion, we do not understand the higher-order organisational, functional and evolutionary features of our genetic material. Our specific interest is in pericentromeric regions of our genome as these are intrinsically unstable, being prone to gross mutational events such as translocation, inversion, duplication and deletion which often involve hundreds of kilobases of DNA. These gross alterations may have a lasting impact on how we are evolving. However the precise nature and extent of this impact is difficult to assess because pericentromeric DNA contains transitions from transcriptionally active euchromatin to more tightly packed and transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin. This means that even some major structural alterations may not actually affect any genes and may therefore be selectively neutral.
Genetics of Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common extracranial solid tumours of childhood. These tumours can spontaneously regress or undergo rapid malignant progression. As a result both prognosis and response to therapy can vary widely. These tumours also show extensive genetic variation and can have one or more characteristic abnormality which indicates a poor clinical prognosis. This genetic, morphological and clinical heterogeneity suggests that Neuroblastoma may progress through a number of distinct pathways.
Selected Publications
- Ehrmann I; Jackson M; Peters H; Nayernia K; Saunders P; Mitchell M; Stamm S; Sette C; Elliott DJ; Dalgliesh C; Tsaousi A; Paronetto MP; Heinrich B; Kist R; Cairns P; Li W; Mueller C. Haploinsufficiency of the germ cell-specific nuclear RNA binding protein hnRNP G-T prevents functional spermatogenesis in the mouse. Human Molecular Genetics 2008, 17(18), 2803-2818.
- Moore HC; Wood KM; Jackson MS; Lastowska MA; Hall D; Imrie H; Redfern CP; Lovat PE; Ponthan F; O'Toole K; Lunec J; Tweddle DA. Histological profile of tumours from MYCN transgenic mice. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2008, 61(10), 1098-1103.
- Viprey VF; Lastowska MA; Corrias MV; Swerts K; Jackson MS; Burchill SA. Minimal disease monitoring by QRT-PCR: Guidelines for identification and systematic validation of molecular markers prior to evaluation in prospective clinical trials. Journal of Pathology 2008, 216(2), 245-252.
- Cheng, A.J.; Ching Cheng, N.; Ford, J.; Smith, J.; Murray, J.E.; Flemming, C.; Lastowska, M.; Jackson, M.S.; Hackett, C.S.; Weiss, W.A.; Marshall, G.M.; Kees, U.R.; Norris, M.D.; Haber, M. Cell lines from MYCN transgenic murine tumours reflect the molecular and biological characteristics of human neuroblastoma. European Journal of Cancer 2007.
- Łastowska MA; Pearson ADJ; Lewis I; Burchill S; Jackson MS; Viprey V; Santibanez-Koref MF; Wappler I; Peters HH; Cullinane C; Roberts P; Hall AG; Tweddle DA. Identification of candidate genes involved in neuroblastoma progression by combining genomic and expression microarrays with survival data. Oncogene 2007, 26(53), 7432-7444.
- Venables JP; Webb M; Pirson Y; Jackson MS; Hughes A; Wood KM; Goodship JA; Goodship THJ; Strain L; Routledge D; Bourn D; Powell HM; Warwicker P; Diaz-Torres ML; Sampson A; Mead P. Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with a hybrid complement gene. PLoS Medicine 2006, 3(10), e431 (1957-1967).
