Lipsett Research Lab

Overview

My research lab focuses on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequence analysis in relationship to disease and heteroplasmic distribution.   By utilizing the research skills developed throughout my career, I approach each area of research from the forensic DNA angle, from the metabolic angle and from the human disease angle. Therefore, studies in sequence variations in the mitochondrial DNA genome leads to the understanding of mitochondrial myopathy diseases. My colleagues and I developed a novel method utilizing optical tweezers to trap, isolate and analyze a single mitochondrion. We have received a patent based on our method.

Utilizing the same DNA methodology, a second area of research focuses on nuclear DNA and sequence variation. Genetic linkage studies are used to identify genes potentially responsible for disease and DNA sequencing to identify a mutation that could be linked to the disease.

Both major areas of research bring years of training including kinetics, enzyme studies, metabolism, cloning, sequencing, PCR, quantitative real time PCR, genotyping and sequencing.   In addition, because of my 25 years of teaching biochemistry (analysis of biological molecules, metabolism) and forensic science, and reviewing grant proposals for the National Institute of Justice, I have a broad and deep knowledge base in chemistry, biochemistry and forensic research especially in DNA analysis.

Please visit the Research page to see our current projects!