SCIENCE AT THE EDGE SEMINAR SERIES

Interdisciplinary Physics Seminar

Friday, 07 September 2012 at 11:30am

Room 1400 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Bldg.

Refreshments at 11:15

Speaker: Yukiko Yamashita
         Center for Stem Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute
         University of Michigan

Title:   Asymmetric Stem Cell Division in Drosophila

Abstract:

Adult stem cells are the source of continuous supply of differentiated cells.
Upon stem cell division, its daughters either self-renewal or differentiate,
a balance of which is critical to tissue homeostasis.  To maintain this
critical balance, many stem cells have a potential to divide asymmetrically,
giving rise to one stem cell and one differentiating cell.

Drosophila male germ line stem cells (GSCs) divide always asymmetrically,
producing one self-renewed stem cell and one differentiating cell.  This
asymmetric stem cell division is tightly controlled via stereotypical
positioning of mother and daughter centrosomes, leading to oriented spindle
with respect to the stem cell niche and thus asymmetric stem cell division. 

I will discuss the mechanisms of asymmetric stem cell division, how asymmetric
stem cell divisions are coordinated among multiple stem cell populations and
describe about newly discovered asymmetries during the stem cell division.