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Department of Biochemistry

Houra Merrikh, Ph.D.

Professor, Biochemistry, PMI, VI4

DNA Replication, mutagenesis, & evolution

Name: Houra Merrikh
Title: Professor of Biochemistry
Department: Biochemistry
Office Address: 639E Light Hall
Phone Number: 615-343-3846
E-mail: houra.merrikh@vanderbilt.edu
Lab URL:  https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/merrikh-lab
PubMed:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Merrikh%20H%5BAuthor%5D

Research Description: Our lab uses a variety of cutting edge tools to study collisions between DNA replication forks and RNA polymerases. These include in vivo single molecule microscopy, deep sequencing, bioinformatics, and lab-based experimental evolution. We pair these new technologies with classical genetics and molecular biology techniques, typically using the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. This naturally competent bacteria grows quickly and is genetically tractable making experiments fast and efficient. In recent years we have also begun studying DNA replication in pathogenic bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica.