BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Molecular mechanisms that regulate the first cell fate decisions i
 n human development - Kathy Niakan\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20241107T160000Z
DTEND:20241107T170000Z
UID:TALK223540@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:125275
DESCRIPTION:During preimplantation development human embryos are comprised
  of pluripotent embryonic cells\, which eventually form the fetus\, and ex
 tra-embryonic cells\, which contribute to the placenta and yolk sac. The c
 entral question we address is what are the molecular mechanisms that regul
 ate these early cell fate choices in human embryos. We are using CRISPR/Ca
 s9-mediated genome editing\, TRIM-Away protein depletion\, dominant negati
 ve mutations and small molecules to dissect the function of genes during h
 uman embryogenesis. These methods have enabled us to uncover that the firs
 t lineage specification event in human embryos is the initiation of a plac
 ental program and that the second decision is the differentiation of yolk 
 sac progenitor cells. Our work has also uncovered a high frequency of unin
 tended on-target mutations following genome editing in human primary cells
 . By integrating signalling insights from human blastocysts we have define
 d human embryonic stem cell culture conditions that more closely recapitul
 ate the embryonic niche. The molecular basis of these early cell lineage d
 ecisions are of fundamental importance and have wide-reaching clinical imp
 lications for infertility\, miscarriages\, developmental disorders and the
 rapeutic applications of stem cells.
LOCATION:Hodgkin Huxley Seminar Room\, Physiology builiding\, Downing Site
  CB2 3EG
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR