A conditional smoothened (smo) allele on an inbred C57BL/6J genetic background has a hypomorphic smo mutant phenotype.

We have introduced the floxed allele of Smoothened (Smo) carried by the mouse line Smo into the C57BL/6J strain by serial backcross. Recapitulation of the Smo null phenotype was confirmed by deleting the allele using E2a-cre and intercrossing heterozygous Smo ± mice. No homozygous mutant embryos were identified at E9.

The arginine methyltransferase Carm1 is necessary for heart development.

To discover genes implicated in human congenital disorders, we performed ENU mutagenesis in the mouse and screened for mutations affecting embryonic development. In this work, we report defects of heart development in mice homozygous for a mutation of coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (Carm1). While Carm1 has been extensively studied, it has never been previously associated with a role in heart development.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Using a Situated Simulation-Based Program to Improve Occupational Therapy Students' Interactions and Observation Skills with Children.

Purpose: Interaction and observation are critical skills for occupational therapists who work with pediatric clients. The objective of this study was to investigate whether using standardized child patients within a situated simulation-based (SSB) program increases students' knowledge and clinical skills when working with children in occupational therapy.

Materials And Methods: This controlled trial with multiple measures recruited students from the pediatric occupational therapy curriculum enrolled in an SSB program in consecutive academic years ( = 62).

Loss of function of disrupts collagen post-translational modification and causes musculoskeletal defects.

In a screen for organogenesis defects in N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutant mice, we discovered a line carrying a mutation in [collagen beta(1-O)galactosyltransferase type 1], which is required for proper galactosylation of hydroxylysine residues in a number of collagens. mutant embryos have not been previously characterized; here, we show that they exhibit skeletal and muscular defects. Analysis of mutant-derived embryonic fibroblasts reveals that COLGALT1 acts on collagen IV and VI, and, while collagen VI appears stable and its secretion is not affected, collagen IV accumulates inside of cells and within the extracellular matrix, possibly due to instability and increased degradation.