Danielle Reed
Encyclopedia
Dr. Danielle R. Reed is a geneticist
currently working at the Monell Chemical Senses Center
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. She is most notable for her papers regarding genetic variation in taste and obesity
in mice
and human
s. Her seminal studies on the genetics of bitter taste perception led to identification of a critical region of human Chromosome 5p15 whose variation correlated with a person's ability to taste the bitterness of PROP (propylthiouracil
). This finding ultimately led to the discovery by Adler and co-workers (Charles Zuker
) of a family of bitter taste receptors (taste receptor
) located within this critical region of the chromosome. In 2008, Reed received the IFF Award For Outstanding Research On The Molecular Basis Of Taste in recognition of her contributions to the field, and delivered the IFF Lecture at the 2008 ACHemS meeting.
, studying the role of hormonal signals on food intake in rodents. She did her doctoral dissertation with Judith Rodin
at Yale University
and Mark Friedman
at the Monell Chemical Senses Center
, focusing on how rodent metabolism changes in response to short term exposure to high fat diets. As a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Arlen Price at the University of Pennsylvania
, she learned human genetics, focusing on mapping of genes for human obesity and taste using family-based linkage methods. She established her own laboratory in 2001 at the Monell Chemical Senses Center and her research is divided between genetic mapping of obesity loci in rodent models and human genetics of taste and smell. She teaches a summer class called "A Taste of Chemistry," which is sponsored in part by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
. She collaborates with Mee-Ra Rhyu from the Korean Food Research Institute on the biology of human salt perception.
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
currently working at the Monell Chemical Senses Center
Monell Chemical Senses Center
The Monell Chemical Senses Center is a non-profit independent scientific institute located at the University City Science Center research campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. She is most notable for her papers regarding genetic variation in taste and obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
in mice
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
and human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s. Her seminal studies on the genetics of bitter taste perception led to identification of a critical region of human Chromosome 5p15 whose variation correlated with a person's ability to taste the bitterness of PROP (propylthiouracil
Propylthiouracil
Propylthiouracil or 6-n-Propylthiouracil is a thioamide drug used to treat hyperthyroidism by decreasing the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland...
). This finding ultimately led to the discovery by Adler and co-workers (Charles Zuker
Charles Zuker
Charles S. Zuker is an American molecular geneticist and neurobiologist of Chilean descent. His lab has contributed to our understanding of mammalian taste, in collaboration with Nicholas Ryba's laboratory at the NIH beginning in the 1990s. Prior to working on mammalian taste, his lab focused on...
) of a family of bitter taste receptors (taste receptor
Taste receptor
A Taste receptor is a type of receptor which facilitates the sensation of taste.Examples include TAS2R16 and TAS2R38.They are divided into two families:* Type 1, sweet, first characterized in 2001: –...
) located within this critical region of the chromosome. In 2008, Reed received the IFF Award For Outstanding Research On The Molecular Basis Of Taste in recognition of her contributions to the field, and delivered the IFF Lecture at the 2008 ACHemS meeting.
Background
Danielle Reed began her training as a scientist in the laboratory of Stephen Woods at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, studying the role of hormonal signals on food intake in rodents. She did her doctoral dissertation with Judith Rodin
Judith Rodin
Judith Rodin was the 7th president of the University of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2004 and the first permanent female president of an Ivy League university. She is currently the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, a position she has held since 2005. A University of Pennsylvania alumna, she...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Mark Friedman
Mark Friedman
Dr. Mark I. Friedman is a physiologist and a psychologist. He is most notable for a paper regarding human metabolism and food intake.He is currently Associate Director at Monell Chemical Senses Center...
at the Monell Chemical Senses Center
Monell Chemical Senses Center
The Monell Chemical Senses Center is a non-profit independent scientific institute located at the University City Science Center research campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, focusing on how rodent metabolism changes in response to short term exposure to high fat diets. As a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Arlen Price at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, she learned human genetics, focusing on mapping of genes for human obesity and taste using family-based linkage methods. She established her own laboratory in 2001 at the Monell Chemical Senses Center and her research is divided between genetic mapping of obesity loci in rodent models and human genetics of taste and smell. She teaches a summer class called "A Taste of Chemistry," which is sponsored in part by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation is a New York City-based foundation founded in 1946 by chemist and investor Camille Dreyfus in honour of his brother, Henry Dreyfus...
. She collaborates with Mee-Ra Rhyu from the Korean Food Research Institute on the biology of human salt perception.
Select publications
- Mennella JA, Pepino MY, Duke FF, Reed DR. Psychophysical dissection of genotype effects on human bitter perception. Chem Senses. 2011 Jan;36(2):161-7. Epub 2010 Oct 27. PubMed PMID: 20980355; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3020389.
- Pelchat ML, Bykowski C, Duke FF, Reed DR. Excretion and perception of a characteristic odor in urine after asparagus ingestion: a psychophysical and genetic study. Chem Senses. 2011 Jan;36(1):9-17. Epub 2010 Sep 27. PubMed PMID: 20876394; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3002398.
- Reed DR, Zhu G, Breslin PA, Duke FF, Henders AK, Campbell MJ, Montgomery GW, Medland SE, Martin NG, Wright MJ. The perception of quinine taste intensity is associated with common genetic variants in a bitter receptor cluster on chromosome 12. Hum Mol Genet. 2010 Nov 1;19(21):4278-85. Epub 2010 Jul 30. PubMed PMID: 20675712; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2951861.
- Reed DR, Duke FF, Ellis HK, Rosazza MR, Lawler MP, Alarcon LK, Tordoff MG. Body fat distribution and organ weights of 14 common strains and a 22-strain consomic panel of rats. Physiol Behav. 2011 Jul 6;103(5):523-9. Epub 2011 Apr 15. PubMed PMID: 21504752; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3107863.