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The University of Southampton
Biological SciencesPostgraduate study

Mr Steven Gurr 

MRes Advanced Biological Science

Mr Steven Gurr

Steve Gurr is an MRes Advanced Biological Science Student within Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton.

I graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2017 with a BSc in Biochemistry.

My project aimed to recreate the 30 nm chromatin fibre in vitro by using alternately ligated combinations of 16-mers in tandem. These oligomers contained homogenous arrays of nucleosome positioning sequences (601), similar to centromeric DNA, and were spaced regularly apart.

Research interests

My research focuses on developing a method of introducing different chemical or biological molecules within DNA nanostructures. I am primarily working with a DNA tetrahedron and exploring its interactions with a biotin labelled, triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO). Biotin has a specific interaction with streptavadin, which could be exploited to act like a biological switch. This has the potential as a precursor for applications in nanotechnology or in therapeutics, where the DNA structure can target a specific cell type and dispense its cargo.

Why I chose MRes Wildlife Conservation:

An MRes allows me to gain a postgraduate degree in research, alongside supplementary modules and includes a longer lab experience than the other alternatives.

Aims for the future:

I eventually want to pursue a career in research focused in DNA nanotechnology or nucleic acid recognition after completing a PhD.

Supervisors: Dr. David Rusling & Prof. Keith Fox

Research group

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Affiliate research group

MRes Advanced Biological Science

Mr Steven Gurr
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
Life Sciences Building 85
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
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