Title: Investigating regulation of mitochondrial activity for effect on asymmetric cell division in neurogenesis
Department: Neuroscience
Description: This project with tadpoles as the model organism will explore brain development. As the brain develops from stem cells to neurons, the rate of different types of cell division impacts the future development of the organism. If the stem cells become neurons too early, the brain may not be able to produce enough neurons, vital brain cells, overall. This project will investigate the specific causes of stem cells changing into neurons, gaining an understanding of why this differentiation may happen earlier for some individuals, as this impacts the individual's overall health and development. Mitochondria are believed to have a role in this differentiation, so this project will focus on a specific gene that regulates the mitochondria's activity levels, with the overall goal of determining the effects of this activity on when stem cells divide into neurons.
Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois
Advisor: Jennifer Bestman
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