Classes Taught
- Molecular Biology (Bio 360/460)
- Introduction to STEM Peer Mentoring (Bio 369)
- Communicating Science (Bio 494)
Research Interests
Margaret Silliker's lab is interested in using lower eukaryotes to
understand molecular mechanisms. Most recently she has been studying the
plasmodial slime mold Didymium iridis in the Myxomycetes, kingdom
Mycetozoa. This group is most closely allied with the animal-fungal
clade. Haploid cells of Didymium will only mate when cell densities are
high, therefore they must be able to sense cell density and respond
differently to low and high cell densities. This ability has the
hallmark of a quorum sensing mechanism. Silliker's current research project involves using suppression subtractive hybridization to identify genes involved in this process.
Select Publications
Walker, L. M., Hoppe, T., Silliker, M. E. 2017. Molecular Techniques and Current Research Approaches. In: Myxomycetes: Biology, Systematics, Biogeography and Ecology edited by Carlos Rojas Alvarado, Steven L. Stephenson. Academic Press, pp. 145-153.
Hendrickson,
P.G. and Silliker, M.E. 2010. RNA editing in six mitochondrial ribosomal
protein genes of Didymium iridis. Current Genetics 56(3):203-213.Traphagen,
Stephen J., DiMarco, Michael J. and Margaret E. Silliker. 2010. RNA
editing of ten Didymium iridis mitochondrial genes and comparison to the
homologous genes in Physarum polycephalum. RNA 16:828-838.Professional Society Memberships
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Associate of University Women
- American Society for Microbiology
- Genetics Society of America
- Mycological Society of America