A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes inDrosophilaby undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience
Authors: Evans Cory J , Olson John M , Mondal Bama Charan , Kandimalla Pratyush , Abbasi Ariano , Abdusamad Mai M , Acosta Osvaldo , Ainsworth Julia A , Akram Haris M , Albert Ralph B , Alegria-Leal Elitzander , Alexander Kai Y , Ayala Angelica C , Balashova Nataliya S , Barber Rebecca M , Bassi Harmanjit , Bennion Sean P , Beyder Miriam , Bhatt Kush V , Bhoot Chinmay , Bradshaw Aaron W , Brannigan Tierney G , Cao Boyu , Cashell Yancey Y , Chai Timothy , Chan Alex W , Chan Carissa , Chang Inho , Chang Jonathan , Chang Michael T , Chang Patrick W , Chang Stephen , Chari Neel , Chassiakos Alexander J , Chen Iris E , Chen Vivian K , Chen Zheying , Cheng Marsha R , Chiang Mimi , Chiu Vivian , Choi Sharon , Chung Jun Ho , Contreras Liset , Corona Edgar , Cruz Courtney J , Cruz Renae L , Dang Jefferson M , Dasari Suhas P , De La Fuente Justin R O , Del Rio Oscar M A , Dennis Emily R , Dertsakyan Petros S , Dey Ipsita , Distler Rachel S , Dong Zhiqiao , Dorman Leah C , Douglass Mark A , Ehresman Allysen B , Fu Ivy H , Fua Andrea , Full Sean M , Ghaffari-Rafi Arash , Ghani Asmar Abdul , Giap Bosco , Gill Sonia , Gill Zafar S , Gills Nicholas J , Godavarthi Sindhuja , Golnazarian Talin , Goyal Raghav , Gray Ricardo , Grunfeld Alexander M , Gu Kelly M , Gutierrez Natalia C , Ha An N , Hamid Iman , Hanson Ashley , Hao Celesti , He Chongbin , He Mengshi , Hedtke Joshua P , Hernandez Ysrael K , Hlaing Hnin , Hobby Faith A , Hoi Karen , Hope Ashley C , Hosseinian Sahra M , Hsu Alice , Hsueh Jennifer , Hu Eileen , Hu Spencer S , Huang Stephanie , Huang Wilson , Huynh Melanie , Javier Carmen , Jeon Na Eun , Ji Sunjong , Johal Jasmin , John Amala , Johnson Lauren , Kadakia Saurin , Kakade Namrata , Kamel Sarah , Kaur Ravinder , Khatra Jagteshwar S , Kho Jeffrey A , Kim Caleb , Kim Emily Jin-Kyung , Kim Hee Jong , Kim Hyun Wook , Kim Jin Hee , Kim Seong Ah , Kim Woo Kyeom , Kit Brian , La Cindy , Lai Jonathan , Lam Vivian , Le Nguyen Khoi , Lee Chi Ju , Lee Dana , Lee Dong Yeon , Lee James , Lee Jason , Lee Jessica , Lee Ju-Yeon , Lee Sharon , Lee Terrence C , Lee Victoria , Li Amber J , Li Jialing , Libro Alexandra M , Lien Irvin C , Lim Mia , Lin Jeffrey M , Liu Connie Y , Liu Steven C , Louie Irene , Lu Shijia W , Luo William Y , Luu Tiffany , Madrigal Josef T , Mai Yishan , Miya Darron I , Mohammadi Mina , Mohanta Sayonika , Mokwena Tebogo , Montoya Tonatiuh , Mould Dallas L , Murata Mark R , Muthaiya Janani , Naicker Seethim , Neebe Mallory R , Ngo Amy , Ngo Duy Q , Ngo Jamie A , Nguyen Anh T , Nguyen Huy C X , Nguyen Rina H , Nguyen Thao T T , Nguyen Vincent T , Nishida Kevin , Oh Seo-Kyung , Omi Kristen M , Onglatco Mary C , Almazan Guadalupe Ortega , Paguntalan Jahzeel , Panchal Maharshi , Pang Stephanie , Parikh Harin B , Patel Purvi D , Patel Trisha H , Petersen Julia E , Pham Steven , Phan-Everson Tien M , Pokhriyal Megha , Popovich Davis W , Quaal Adam T , Querubin Karl , Resendiz Anabel , Riabkova Nadezhda , Rong Fred , Salarkia Sarah , Sama Nateli , Sang Elaine , Sanville David A , Schoen Emily R , Shen Zhouyang , Siangchin Ken , Sibal Gabrielle , Sin Garuem , Sjarif Jasmine , Smith Christopher J , Soeboer Annisa N , Sosa Cristian , Spitters Derek , Stender Bryan , Su Chloe C , Summapund Jenny , Sun Beatrice J , Sutanto Christine , Tan Jaime S , Tan Nguon L , Tangmatitam Parich , Trac Cindy K , Tran Conny , Tran Daniel , Tran Duy , Tran Vina , Truong Patrick A , Tsai Brandon L , Tsai Pei-Hua , Tsui C Kimberly , Uriu Jackson K , Venkatesh Sanan , Vo Maique , Vo Nhat-Thi , Vo Phuong , Voros Timothy C , Wan Yuan , Wang Eric , Wang Jeffrey , Wang Michael K , Wang Yuxuan , Wei Siman , Wilson Matthew N , Wong Daniel , Wu Elliott , Xing Hanning , Xu Jason P , Yaftaly Sahar , Yan Kimberly , Yang Evan , Yang Rebecca , Yao Tony , Yeo Patricia , Yip Vivian , Yogi Puja , Young Gloria Chin , Yung Maggie M , Zai Alexander , Zhang Christine , Zhang Xiao X , Zhao Zijun , Zhou Raymond , Zhou Ziqi , Abutouk Mona , Aguirre Brian , Ao Chon , Baranoff Alexis , Beniwal Angad , Cai Zijie , Chan Ryan , Chien Kenneth Chang , Chaudhary Umar , Chin Patrick , Chowdhury Praptee , Dalie Jamlah , Du Eric Y , Estrada Alec , Feng Erwin , Ghaly Monica , Graf Rose , Hernandez Eduardo , Herrera Kevin , Ho Vivien W , Honeychurch Kaitlyn , Hou Yurianna , Huang Jo M , Ishii Momoko , James Nicholas , Jang Gah-Eun , Jin Daphne , Juarez Jesse , Kesaf Ayse Elif , Khalsa Sat Kartar , Kim Hannah , Kovsky Jenna , Kuang Chak Lon , Kumar Shraddha , Lam Gloria , Lee Ceejay , Lee Grace , Li Li , Lin Joshua , Liu Josephine , Ly Janice , Ma Austin , Markovic Hannah , Medina Cristian , Mungcal Jonelle , Naranbaatar Bilguudei , Patel Kayla , Petersen Lauren , Phan Amanda , Phung Malcolm , Priasti Nadiyah , Ruano Nancy , Salim Tanveer , Schnell Kristen , Shah Paras , Shen Jinhua , Stutzman Nathan , Sukhina Alisa , Tian Rayna , Vega-Loza Andrea , Wang Joyce , Wang Jun , Watanabe Rina , Wei Brandon , Xie Lillian , Ye Jessica , Zhao Jeffrey , Zimmerman Jill , Bracken Colton , Capili Jason , Char Andrew , Chen Michel , Huang Pingdi , Ji Sena , Kim Emily , Kim Kenneth , Ko Julie , Laput Sean Louise G , Law Sam , Lee Sang Kuk , Lee Olivia , Lim David , Lin Eric , Marik Kyle , Mytych Josh , O'Laughlin Andie , Pak Jensen , Park Claire , Ryu Ruth , Shinde Ashwin , Sosa Manny , Waite Nick , Williams Mane , Wong Richard , Woo Jocelyn , Woo Jonathan , Yepuri Vishaal , Yim Dorothy , Huynh Dan , Wijiewarnasurya Dinali , Shapiro Casey , Levis-Fitzgerald Marc , Jaworski Leslie , Lopatto David , Clark Ira E , Johnson Tracy , Banerjee Utpal 
Published: February 2021

Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular trafficking. Lastly, the participation of students in this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) correlated with increased learning gains across several areas, as well as increased STEM retention, indicating that authentic, student-driven research in the form of a CURE represents an impactful and enriching pedagogical approach.