Comparing Protocols for Extracting, Amplifying, and Imaging ApoE ε4 Allele: Preliminary work for understanding Alzheimer’s Disease in asymptomatic individuals

This thesis aimed to develop a consistent protocol used to effectively image the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele, which is a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The research team used methods to extract DNA from saliva samples, amplify the DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and image the results using gel electrophoresis and a transilluminator. Extensive literature review was used to optimize these techniques. Future studies will use these methods of characterizing the ApoE ε4 allele as preliminary work towards the goal of integrating this protocol into ongoing research in aging within the Motor Rehabilitation and Learning (MRL) Lab on Arizona State University’s campus.