Kay Davies
Encyclopedia
Dame Kay Elizabeth Davies, DBE
, FRS
(b. 1 April 1951) is a British
human geneticist
.
She is the Dr Lee's Professor of Anatomy at Oxford University
and a fellow of Hertford College. She is director of the MRC
functional genetics unit, a governor of the Wellcome Trust
and a director of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function
.
Her research group has an international reputation for work on Duchenne muscular dystrophy
(DMD). In the 1980s, she developed a test which allowed for the screening of foetuses whose mothers have a high risk of carrying DMD.
.
(DMD). In the 1980s, she developed a test which allowed for the screening of foetuses whose mothers have a high risk of carrying DMD. DMD occurs when the dystrophin
protein
fails to express in muscle cells due to a mutation in the gene which codes for the protein. In 1989 Davies discovered that the utrophin
protein has similar properties to dystrophin and has since shown in mouse models that up regulation of the former protein in muscle cells can compensate for the absence of latter.
Davies is director of the MRC
functional genetics unit, a governor of the Wellcome Trust
and, with Frances Ashcroft
and Peter Donnelly
is a director of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function
. She is also an Executive Editor of the journal Human Molecular Genetics
.
in 2003. Already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), she was advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours
.
She is an Honorary Fellow, Somerville College, University of Oxford.
, on scientific projects, even after their separation in 2000. Their son is studying Biology at Edinburgh University.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(b. 1 April 1951) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
human geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
.
She is the Dr Lee's Professor of Anatomy at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and a fellow of Hertford College. She is director of the MRC
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
functional genetics unit, a governor of the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
and a director of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function
Oxford Centre for Gene Function
The Oxford Centre for Gene Function is a multidisciplinary research institute in the University of Oxford, England. It is directed by Frances Ashcroft, Kay Davies and Peter Donnelly....
.
Her research group has an international reputation for work on Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
(DMD). In the 1980s, she developed a test which allowed for the screening of foetuses whose mothers have a high risk of carrying DMD.
Early life
She was born as Kay Elizabeth Partridge and educated at the Gig Mill School, Stourbridge County High School for Girls, Somerville College, University of Oxford and Wolfson College, OxfordWolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
.
Career
Davies' research group has an international reputation for work on Duchenne muscular dystrophyDuchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
(DMD). In the 1980s, she developed a test which allowed for the screening of foetuses whose mothers have a high risk of carrying DMD. DMD occurs when the dystrophin
Dystrophin
Dystrophin is a rod-shaped cytoplasmic protein, and a vital part of a protein complex that connects the cytoskeleton of a muscle fiber to the surrounding extracellular matrix through the cell membrane. This complex is variously known as the costamere or the dystrophin-associated protein complex...
protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
fails to express in muscle cells due to a mutation in the gene which codes for the protein. In 1989 Davies discovered that the utrophin
Utrophin
Utrophin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the UTRN gene.The protein encoded by this gene is a component of the cytoskeleton. Utrophin was found during research into Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. The name is a contraction for ubiquitous dystrophin. The 900 kb gene for utrophin is found on...
protein has similar properties to dystrophin and has since shown in mouse models that up regulation of the former protein in muscle cells can compensate for the absence of latter.
Davies is director of the MRC
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
functional genetics unit, a governor of the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
and, with Frances Ashcroft
Frances Ashcroft
Frances Ashcroft, FRS, MA , PhD, ScD is a British physiologist. She is Royal Society GlaxoSmithKline Research Professor in the University of Oxford...
and Peter Donnelly
Peter Donnelly
Peter Donnelly, FRS is an Australian mathematician and Professor of Statistical Science at the University of Oxford. He is a specialist in applied probability and has made contributions to coalescent theory...
is a director of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function
Oxford Centre for Gene Function
The Oxford Centre for Gene Function is a multidisciplinary research institute in the University of Oxford, England. It is directed by Frances Ashcroft, Kay Davies and Peter Donnelly....
. She is also an Executive Editor of the journal Human Molecular Genetics
Human Molecular Genetics
Human Molecular Genetics, first published in 1992, is a semimonthly peer reviewed, scientific journal, published by The Oxford University Press. The journal's focus is research papers on all topics related to human molecular genetics. In addition, two "special review" issues are published each year...
.
Recognition
Davies was elected a Fellow of the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 2003. Already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), she was advanced to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours
New Year Honours 2008
The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008....
.
She is an Honorary Fellow, Somerville College, University of Oxford.
Personal life
Davies continued to work with her former husband, Stephen G. DaviesStephen G. Davies
Stephen Graham "Steve" Davies is a British chemist and the Waynflete Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.- Career :...
, on scientific projects, even after their separation in 2000. Their son is studying Biology at Edinburgh University.
External links
- Kay E. Davies homepage in the MRC Functional Genetics Unit
- Research of Kay E. Davies on the molecular analysis of neuromuscular and neurological disorders