干细胞与再生生物学

In this course, we will explore basic mechanisms of how cells differentiate into specific tissues in response to a variety of biologic signalling molecules. We will discuss the use of such factors for in vitro tissue production. For example, bone morphogenetic proteins can be used in vitro to drive the differentiation of adult stem cells towards bone and heart. We will also study the cellular mechanisms involved in the cloning of animals and how Scottish researchers produced the sheep Dolly using the nucleus of a mammary gland cell from an adult sheep. We will read papers describing organ production, such as the in vitro formation of beating heart cells. We will discuss how studies of the developmental, cellular and molecular biology of regeneration have led to the discovery of new drugs.