M.J. Harris, PhD

Associate Professor Emerita
Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
C/o Life Sciences Centre
Rm. 1.364 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
Fax: (604) 822-5348
Email: muriel.harris@ubc.ca

Research Interests: Genetics and development of birth defects in mouse models.

I work on birth defects in mice as models for human birth defects. In particular, I am interested in the mouse models for the common human birth defects, neural tube defects and cleft lip (with or without cleft palate). I collaborate with D.M. Juriloff in the study of two mouse models, the SELH/Bc model for anencephaly and the A/WySn model for cleft lip. These two traits are genetically complex both in humans and in these mouse models. We use a wide range of approaches and techniques in genetics, molecular biology, and embryology to determine the number of loci involved in susceptibility, to map and identify the major genes, and to pinpoint the first developmental steps that go wrong. We also study the effects of maternal genotype and maternal diet on risk, towards understanding the mechanisms of prevention of these birth defects.

Selected Publications:

Juriloff DM, Gunn TM, Harris MJ, Mah DG, Wu MK, Dewell SL (2001) Multifactorial genetics of exencephaly in SELH/Bc mice. Teratology 64:189-200.

Juriloff DM, Harris MJ, Dewell SL (2004) A digenic cause of cleft lip in A-strain mice and definition of candidate genes for the two loci. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 70:509-518.

Harris MJ, Juriloff DM (2005) Maternal diet alters exencephaly frequency in SELH/Bc strain mouse embryos. Birth Defects Research (Part A): Clinical and Molecular Teratology 73:532-540.

Juriloff DM, Harris MJ, McMahon AP, et al (2006) Wnt9b is the mutated gene involved in multifactorial nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in A/WySn mice, as confirmed by a genetic complementation test. Birth Defects Research (Part A) Clinical and Molecular Teratology 76:574-579.

Harris MJ, Juriloff DM (2006) Mouse mutants with neural tube closure defects and their role in understanding human neural tube defects. Birth Defects Research (Part A) in press, Oct. 2006.