| Citation | Distinguished for her pioneering work on the control of mammalian gene expression. Tilghman contributed to the initial cloning of the globin genes and the identification of intronic sequences. Her study of the mouse alpha-fetoprotein and albumin gene advanced our knowledge of the multiple cis elements which regulate the tissue specific and development specific expression of mammalian genes, as well as unlinked egens which regulate the expression of the alpha-fetoprotein gene itself. Recently she identified a novel gene, H19, which directs the transcription of an RNA with highly conserved sequences and which undergoes parenteral imprinting. Ectopic expression of the H19 RNA, which is apparently not translatable into protein, causes prenatal lethality, thus demonstrating the importance of the imprinting process. Tilghman's work has been remarkable for its innovation, clarity, and significance. |