Barbara Balter, B. S., Biology,
University of Maine, Orono, ME
Ph.D. Student in Immunology
E-mail: barbara.woodman@tufts.edu

My research centers on the mechanism of IgH heavy chain class switch recombination. Earlier results from our lab showed that the Sµ tandem reeats are not required for switching. I am examining the possibility that sequences flanking Sµ play a role in switching by generating mice lacking these sequences. I am also studying the potential role played by RNA:DNA hybrids, structure proposed to be important for switching. I am currently trying to determine if these structures are present in mice that lack the Sµ tandem repeat sequences.