University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Cambridge Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Seminars > Exploring mechanisms of human brain expansion in cerebral organoids

Exploring mechanisms of human brain expansion in cerebral organoids

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Dervila Glynn.

Theme: Lifelong Brain Development

Abstract:The human brain sets us apart as a species, with its size being one of its most striking features. Brain size is largely determined during development as vast numbers of neurons and supportive glia are generated. In an effort to better understand the events that determine the human brain’s cellular makeup, and its size, we use a human model system in a dish, called cerebral organoids. These 3D tissues are generated from pluripotent stem cells through neural differentiation and a supportive 3D microenvironment to generate organoids with the same tissue architecture as the early human fetal brain. Such organoids are allowing us to tackle questions previously impossible with more traditional approaches. Indeed, our recent findings provide insight into regulation of brain size and neuron number across ape species, identifying key stages of early neural stem cell expansion that set up a larger starting cell number to enable the production of increased numbers of neurons. We are also investigating the role of extrinsic regulators in determining numbers and types of neurons produced in the human cerebral cortex. Overall, our findings are pointing to key, human-specific aspects of brain development and function, that have important implications for neurological disease.

Register in advance for this seminar: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUodeyoqzsoHt3jbjh3UrPY4ZPrHsWWWfXR

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This talk is part of the Cambridge Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Seminars series.

Tell a friend about this talk:

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

 

© 2006-2024 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity