Are you interested in learning more about the history of KIF1A research? Dr. Jayne Aiken, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Holzbaur Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, summarizes the key findings (and some “controversies”) in KIF1A research, starting with the discovery of kinesin in 1985.

Her presentation, “A brief history of KIF1A: From gene discovery to disease mechanism(s),” was written for a scientific audience, but Dr. Aiken simplified her work in collaboration with KIF1A.ORG for families who want to learn more about this history of KIF1A research and our current understanding of KIF1A science.

Follow-Up Interview

Highlights from Dr. Aiken’s interview with KIF1A.ORG’s Dr. Dominique Lessard:

~1:20: How did Dr. Aiken get into KIF1A research?
~3:25: How does Dr. Aiken approach KIF1A research?
~5:00: Kinesins were discovered in the 1980s, but the first KIF1A patient wasn’t identified until 2011. Why?
~7:40: What are some challenges with genetic sequencing?
~10:10: What is dimerization and why has this been controversial in KIF1A research?
~15:25: We know that KIF1A transports cargo, but we haven’t identified all of the cargos that KIF1A carries. Why is this information incomplete? How does a scientist identify KIF1A cargo in a cell?
~21:35: What motivates Dr. Aiken?

Comments

  1. 1

    […] Read the Research Simplified […]

  2. 2

    […] summary of her presentation on the history of KIF1A research. We updated the Research Simplifed blog post, but you can also watch the video below. In this interview, Dr. Aiken also talks about how she got […]

  3. 3
    Kimberly Joseph on October 5, 2020

    I really enjoyed this as I am working on a presentation on K1F1A for my MS degree in genetics. I am looking at loss and gain of function and would like to learn more about this in K1FIA. Can we discuss more from the article (Her presentation, “A brief history of KIF1A: From gene discovery to disease mechanism(s),” was written for a scientific audience, but Dr. Aiken simplified her work in collaboration with KIF1A.ORG for families who want to learn more about this history of KIF1A research and our current understanding of KIF1A science.)

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