Alys Aston Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Research on the stability of expanded CAG/CTG repeats.

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Delivering Life Sciences tutorials for International students enrolled in a Foundation Course with Study Group at Cardiff University

‘Investigating the role of DNA polymerase theta in telomeric stability and the escape from crisis’. Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University.Supervisors: Professor Duncan Baird and Dr Kate Liddiard.My PhD involved the investigation of the contribution of DNA polymerase theta (POLQ) to DNA repair, telomere dynamics and genomic instability. This research had three main aims:1. To determine whether POLQ affects the ability of cells to escape a… Show more ‘Investigating the role of DNA polymerase theta in telomeric stability and the escape from crisis’. Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University.Supervisors: Professor Duncan Baird and Dr Kate Liddiard.My PhD involved the investigation of the contribution of DNA polymerase theta (POLQ) to DNA repair, telomere dynamics and genomic instability. This research had three main aims:1. To determine whether POLQ affects the ability of cells to escape a telomere-driven crisis2. To investigate the role of POLQ in telomere-fusion events3. To determine the impact of POLQ on the evolving cancer genome.To address these aims, three human cell lines, HCT116, HAP1 and RPE1 wild-type (WT) cell lines were used alongside POLQ-deficient cell lines. I genetically manipulated HAP1 and HCT116 cells via viral infection to induce telomere erosion and subsequently a period of telomere-driven crisis. In addition, I used nucleases to induce double strand breaks within subtelomeric DNA. I analysed differences in telomere length dynamics and telomere fusion events by single-molecule long-range PCR. I utilised whole genome sequencing to provide a high-resolution characterisation of the mutational impact of telomere dysfunction and the potential mechanisms underpinning clonal evolution and the escape from crisis. Furthermore, I used next generation sequencing to perform in depth sequence analysis of both inter- and intra-chromosomal telomere fusion events amplified from cells undergoing a telomere-driven crisis in the presence and absence of POLQ. Show less

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

My role in this company involved being a named contact on customer-driven projects in which they required a bespoke enzyme. I therefore had to work with customers and research scientists to facilitate the running of these projects from initial conversations with customers regarding their requirements to the research, design and potential manufacturing of customised products.

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

My initial role in this company was a technical sales apprentice. A requirement of this role was to understand the applications of the existing enzyme products in order to sell these products, primarily to customers within the food industry.

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

This role as a laboratory research technician in the field of immunochemistry and biomarker detection for occupational exposure monitoring involved processing human biological samples (urine). I routinely prepared patient samples for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the urinary biomarkers of occupational solvents as a measure of recent exposures. This benzene ELISA was the first of its type to be developed in the world.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Cancer And Genetics

Postgraduate Degree, Secondary Education And Teaching

Level 2 Nvq In Sales (Qcf)

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biochemistry

A Level, Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Abb