Project Overview

Signaling in sensory cell progenitors

Faculty Sponsor

Jason Meyers (jmeyers@colgate.edu)

Department(s)

Biology
Neuroscience

Abstract

In mammals, loss of sensory hair cells in the inner ear or photoreceptors in the retina leads to permanent sensory deficit.  However, in fish, these cells are readily regenerated from stem/progenitor cells.  This project is to examine the signal transduction pathways that control the regeneration of sensory cells from these progenitors.  The project involves analyzing cellular behaviors via microscopy, measuring gene expression changes via in situ hybridization, and altering key pathways with pharmacological inhibitors or transgenes.  Students will become familiar with the scientific literature around these questions as they design new experiments to uncover the mechanisms by which sensory regeneration is controlled.

Student Qualifications

Biol 182 or Neur 170

Number of Student Researchers

4 students

Project Length

10 weeks




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If you have questions, please contact Karyn Belanger (kgbelanger@colgate.edu).