Lab website : https://ewiconvsthailand.tech

Where is the lab?

Excellent Unit of Wildlife Stem Cells (eWIS) is housed in two remarkable locations: Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center (WRIC) at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (as part of Zoological Part Organization of Thailand) and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University. Both reside in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

Research summary

The eWIS initiative brings together a team of stem cell scientists and veterinarians, forging connections between universities and zoos. The primary objective is to explore the immense potential of stem cell technology in establishing a biobank comprised of stem cells derived from endangered mammalian and avian species. Our research focuses on species that require urgent preservation efforts to safeguard genetic diversity through the collection of viable cells capable of generating entire animal bodies, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Additionally, we are striving to generate wild felid/ domestic and non-domestic cat embryonic stem cells.

Our primary focus lies in wild felid species, including fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and domestic cat (Felis catus) as a model. Our goal is to generate iPSCs from these wild cats, unravelling the possibilities of utilizing iPSCs for conservation purposes through in vitro gametogenesis, animal cloning, and assisted reproductive technology (ART). We are also devoted to establishing wild avian iPSCs, with specific attention given to hornbills and peafowl.

Furthermore, we employ a range of evolutionary tools to delve into the conservation and divergence of pluripotency networks across various vertebrate species. In particular, our research involves studying Oct4 homologues to comprehend the effects of evolutionary changes on conserved and diverged Oct4 functions. The profound insights gained from understanding the Oct4 network and early developmental programs contribute to translational approaches, aimed at overcoming reprogramming barriers in wild species.

Lab roll call

Santhita: Researcher – Managing routine lab works/paper works at WRIC, bridging zoo units to collect wild animal tissues (mostly dead) to eWIS; Organizing biobank at the zoo

Pathira : Lab Manager/Researcher – Managing routine lab works/paper works/ordering at eWIS lab at Department of Biology; Generating barnacle collection

Pawares: Pre-doc student – searching cat ovaries and testes around the city!, IVF of cat embryos, cat pluripotency explorer

Nattakorn: Master student – primary culture of tissues from live and dead mammals and birds; RNA-based reprogramming; bioinformatics on pluripotency network

Ratchapon: Master student – Wild avian/chicken reprogramming and understanding the network within avian pluripotency

Pitiwut & Rattanaporn & Phanpimon: BSc students – characterization of felid pluripotency and cat IVF/IVM

Chichakon & Phornchanok: BSc students – avian reprogramming: testing various sets of reprogramming factors

Purachet : BSc student – Sea urchin hunter ! and barnacle biology

Ampika: PI – advice the team, developing ART research, searching research grant, building capacity of the team and strengthen research network

Woranop: PI – teaching, admin jobs, pipetting, being Head (meeting job) & Biology program director, making connections between organizations

Favourite technique, and why

Woranop: Cellular reprogramming is my favourite tool. It is fascinating of how these felid cells can uptake reprogramming factors and transform the morphology and reverse cell fate! I love immunostaining of pre-implantation embryos from IVF- this is stunning how a single cell can become diversified in forms and functions! Recently, I discover myself to enjoy working on structural models predicted from AlphaFold2 which helps understand the evolution of proteins orchestrating the development.

Ampika: ARTs including AI, IVF and cloning are my favourite techniques for enhancing breeding conservation program of important species such as fishing cat, clouded leopard, flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps), Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Developing cryopreservation for establishment of “Viable Cell Bank” is crucial as it is important as insurance against loss or extinct of endangered species. These techniques are valuable tools that we use to sustain the genetic diversity of our endemic and global important species.

Apart from your own research, what are you most excited about in developmental and stem cell biology?

Woranop: It is amazing how cells know how to reorganize themselves into specific shapes and transform into particular lineages. The technology to generate synthetic embryos, based on our understanding of cell potency and differentiation, is incredibly exciting. I am curious to see how this technology will merge with our understanding of wild stem cells and eventually contribute to saving wild animals.

Ampika: It is very exciting to see how we can develop stable stem cell colonies and differentiate them into various cell types that can be applied for medical treatments and reproductive purposes. This capability is incredibly useful for sustaining wildlife populations in the future!

How do you approach managing your group and all the different tasks required in your job?

Woranop: Everything is all about team work and communication! Regular meet-up helps a lot. We also frequently hang out for lunch or dinner, creating a comfortable environment for students to freely talk and share ideas.

Ampika: Update and discuss in anytime and set up a small meeting at least once a month.

What is the best thing about where you work?

Woranop : I enjoy working multidisciplinary fields of biology at our department and visiting the zoo every time I go to the eWIS lab. It allows me to appreciate animals and nature.

Ampika : The best part of our work is that we apply all our knowledge to prevent our wildlife from facing the brink of extinction! Our work supports not only ex situ management but also in situ conservation.

Santhita: At the zoo, we have access to a diverse range of wild animal species, which enables us to quickly collect samples for our work after the animals die or during health checks.

Pathira: The department admin staffs – we can ask for almost everything from lab materials to animal/plant specimens. 

Pawares: Working with developing embryos often fills my heart with boundless excitement.

Nattakorn: I love being a TA and teaching undergraduate students! It provides me with opportunities to help other young students develop a passion for science through activities like science camps. It also allows me to support them in navigating university courses and life.

Ratchapon: The teachers in our department are very friendly, and we can contact them to get advice anytime.

Pitiwut: Everyone here is a bundle of joy- we can engage in conversations about anything, no matter how unrelated to work it may be!

Rattanaporn: Learning new things all the time

Phanpimon: Our advisors are the best! They always provide great support.

Chichakon: There are plenty of opportunities to engage in biology research starting from my third year! I love the open exchange of ideas we have in the lab.

Phornchanok: The great friendships in the lab make everything easier.

Purachet: Enjoy Sukiyaki parties with admin staffs in the department lunch breaks!

What is there to do outside of the lab?

Woranop : I teach undergraduate and graduate students, and it brings me joy to share the fascinating stories of developmental biology with them outside the lab. We are also located near Bangsaen Beach! I often hang out with our team and visit other beaches along the eastern coast of Thailand.

Ampika : Since we work with 6 zoos nationwide and the Elephant Kingdom Project, it is very enjoyable to explore the places and talk to local people. And of course, Bangsaen is my favourite place to R&R!

Santhita: Sometimes in the evening, we take walks around the zoo to be close to nature. Nearby, there are tourist attractions such as Chan Ta Then waterfall and Bang Pra reservoir.

Pathira: Hangout at the zoo, Capybara watching! & definitely, Bangsaen is a right place for seafood, in particular grilled shrimp/squid

Pawares: I help organize department events and take care of our small colonies of chickens!

Nattakorn: I enjoy playing online games while waiting for my phylogenetic analyses! The beautiful Bangsaen beach also provides great help during exam or lab meeting crises

Ratchapon: I assist the department’s administrative staffs for specific events and serve as a TA to help Woranop teach the Developmental Biology Lab.

Pitiwut: I keep myself fit and healthy by doing cardio exercises at the nearby gym! I think it helps clear my thoughts a lot after a long day of studying and working in the lab.

Rattanaporn: Moo-gata (Traditional Thai BBQ!) is a must here.

Phanpimon: Jet skiing, running on the beach, or even feeding the monkeys on Khao Sam Muk hill.

Chichakon: I love designing art works for my lab and also others in the department.

Phornchanok: We can do a lot of things in Bangsaen – shopping, visiting cafes, having dinner, and enjoying the beach!

Purachet: Outside of class and the lab, I spend most of my time in the department studio, where I assist with photography and collect biological samples for departmental teaching.

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The Company of Biologists has launched a new server on Mastodon: biologists.social. It is a space for biologists to discuss science, research, teaching, life and more.

You can find the Node on this server, along with FocalPlane, preLights, and our peer-reviewed journals Development and others.

We invite you to join us on this server to build a community for biologists and to engage in lively discussions.

You can read the full story on why we decided to launch our own Mastodon server and some tips on how to join us on biologists.social.

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“Richard III was King of England from 1483 to 1485. There are some contemporary records. One talks about him having one shoulder higher than the other. So when we were excavating, we thought maybe we’ll find somebody with a spinal abnormality.“

Prof. Turi King

In the latest episode of the Genetics Unzipped podcast, we’re venturing into ancient territory and archaeological digs, excavating the complex ethics of extracting and sequencing DNA from human remains. We chat to Prof. Turi King about her role uncovering the body King Richard III and who decides which research gets done.

Genetics Unzipped is the podcast from The Genetics Society. Full transcript, links and references available online at GeneticsUnzipped.com.

Subscribe from Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Head over to GeneticsUnzipped.com to catch up on our extensive back catalogue.If you enjoy the show, please do rate and review on Apple podcasts and help to spread the word on social media. And you can always send feedback and suggestions for future episodes and guests to podcast@geneticsunzipped.com Follow us on Twitter – @geneticsunzip

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On 21 June 2023, Development hosted a webinar featuring talks on the topic of growth and morphogenesis from three early career researchers, chaired by Development’s Editor-in-Chief, James Briscoe. Below are the recordings of the talks.

Patricio Pérez-Henríquez (University of California, Riverside)

Stefania Tavano (MedUni Vienna)

Stefan Harmansa (IBDM and Turing Center for Living Systems)

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Looking forward to welcome you to our EMBO Workshop – Developmental metabolism: flows of energy, matter, and information

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In this post I will discuss our recent paper titled “Pluripotent, germ cell competent adult stem cells underlie cnidarian regenerative ability and clonal growth” as well as detailing the trials and tribulations that preceded it (Varley, et al., 2023).

Hydrozoan cnidarians have a population of stem cells, known as i-cells. The developmental potential of only one other hydrozoan i-cell has been described before this paper. Hydra‘s i-cells can give rise to the neuroglandular lineage and to germ cells. Their ectodermal and endodermal epithelial cells are self-renewing, constituting separate lineages. i-cells multipotent but not pluripotent (Bosch & David, 1987).

In terms of Hydractinia, it was established that a population of stem cells (known as i-cells) were able to give rise to every single lineage (Müller, et al., 2004). This showed that as a population, i-cells can give rise to the somatic and germ cell lineages. The potential of a single i-cell, however, was still unknown. Either i-cells had their own distinct lineage restricted sub-populations or they were pluripotent, and one i-cell could give rise to all cell types.

The aim of my research was to transplant a single i-cell and observe it in vivo. For this purpose, we had an extremely useful fluorescent reporter animal at our disposal. This animal had two fluorescent transgenes, the first transgene was Piwi1- driven GFP which is expressed in only i-cells and germ cells. It is downregulated in differentiated cells. The other transgene was Beta-tubulin- driven mScarlet. This transgene is expressed by all differentiated cells but not i-cells. This allowed us to identify i-cells by their GFP expression and lack of mScarlet expression and identify the i-cells progeny by their mScarlet expression and dim GFP fluorescence due to the half-life of the GFP. The aim of the project was to transplant a single GFP positive i-cell into a wild type recipient and identify the resulting progeny that would be identifiable by their mScarlet expression.

Bottlenecks on bottlenecks

Transplanting a single cell was my first objective when I started this project as a 1^st year PhD student. I figured that it should take me 3-4 months maximum to get it sorted, optimised and then I could press on with the actual experiments and start generating some (hopefully decent) data. I began by looking at what single cell transplantations had been performed before in comparable models and hoped that it would be just as successful in Hydractinia.

Firstly, I tried incorporation of a cell via aggregation. This is something that was established in Hydra (Murphy & David, 1977). It required dissociation of full Hydractinia polyps. I could then identify a single i-cell by its GFP fluorescence and its lack of mScarlet fluorescence. This would then be picked up by a needle attached to a micro-injector and ejected into a tube full of dissociated wild type cells. These would then be centrifuged into an aggregate and cultured till, ideally, a polyp with a single transplanted i-cell would be established. Turns out, betting on a single cell surviving aspiration and/or centrifugation is a long shot. In meetings with my PI, Uri, I frustratedly referred to it as “a bottleneck on a bottleneck”.

After, countless amounts of failed transplantations via aggregation I was reinspired by the planarian community’s favourite method of single cell transplantation: direct injection into the animal (Wagner, et al., 2011). Perhaps by directly delivering a single cell I could finally cross off my first objective. This required a steady hand to ensure you didn’t overshoot the piercing of the epidermis and inject a cell into the gastric cavity. Unfortunately, after injecting into adult polyps and larvae from all angles I realised that this method wasn’t going to be feasible either. I was just not seeing any i-cell engraftment. It may have been a combination of mechanical issues on my part, maybe unhappy cells or also Hydractinia having a much more confined stem cell niche area than planarians do. Ultimately, we never found out why. We just knew it wasn’t a way forward to achieve our aims.  At this point, I was almost 2 years into my PhD and that first objective was still not completed. The pressure was mounting, and I started considering alternative projects in the worst-case scenario. Whatever came next would be my last attempt at getting this project off the ground. 

Keeping it in the niche    

Finally, we had our own form of a eureka moment. We had been dissociating the animals to isolate one cell (like the planarian and Hydra communities had previously done) but we had overlooked something major and wonderful about Hydractinia. We had overlooked what sets them apart from both Hydra and planarians. Hydractinia is a colonial animal that can fuse and swap cells with a histocompatible relative via stolonal networks. I had been working to establish a method of transplanting cells when our model already had one itself. We could keep our i-cells within their own niche! I just had to find a way to effectively leverage it to my aims.

This began with me setting up Hydractinia “neighbourhoods”: a donor colony settled next to a recipient colony. The donor colony would grow and then fuse with the recipient by extended stolons and I could patiently observe i-cells migrating into the recipient tissue, waiting for a perfect moment to strike and isolate one cell (Figure 1). I had noticed that when the colonies were fed less, they were more likely to grow long branches of stolons rather than extending their mat. A long branch was preferable as it meant the i-cells could be transplanted “in single file” rather than like an encroaching army that was more unpredictable and difficult to follow a single cell.  After numerous fusions of donor and recipient I isolated a single donor i-cell in a piece of recipient stolon tissue. The next day there were two i-cells. Then four. Then there were mScarlet expressing somatic cells AND i-cells. My transplanted cell was proliferating and differentiating. This new chimeric piece of stolon grew into a small colony with both wild type cells and cells derived from the one i-cell. Extraordinarily relieved, I checked off that first objective.     

At the early stages there was a split between recipient and donor derived cells in the colony. To ensure that the donor cells were not outcompeted I performed “selective pruning”. This involved excising large portions of tissue that had only/mainly wild type recipient cells. This gave us a lot of peace of mind as we were more confident that the donor cells wouldn’t be outcompeted before they had developed sexual polyps.

When the animal was sexually mature, we were excited to see sexual polyps that were male (from the recipient) but also fluorescent and female (from the donor). Some sexual polyps were even both. These donor derived GFP+ and mScarlet+ oocytes were able to be fertilised and gave rise to a new primary polyp that inherited the transgenes from the single donor i-cell (Figure 2). From this we knew that one i-cell can contribute to the next generation of Hydractinia.

Using live confocal microscopy on polyps cut from the colony, we were able to identify mScarlet+ neurons, epithelial cells, nematocytes and i-cells by their characteristic morphologies. Gland cells, however, were more difficult to identify. We didn’t have any antibodies that could identify them and even by morphology they often look like more vesicular epithelial cells. To address this, we had to look at it from a different perspective. At this later stage of the colony, we were able to confirm by flow cytometry that all cells present were transgenic and there were no recipient cells remaining. This meant that all cells, including gland cells, came from the single donor i-cell. This was the ultimate proof of pluripotency for us. There was not a single cell in the animal that one i-cell did not give rise to.

Don’t doubt your model

In humans, pluripotency occurs for a brief snippet of time pre-gastrulation. This paper established that Hydractinia stem cells are pluripotent for the full extent of their life. When starting, I didn’t expect for one single cell to be as globally influential as it was. In retrospect, I should have never doubted our model and its ability to impress.

References

Bosch, T. & David, C., 1987. Stem cells of Hydra magnipapillata can differentiate into somatic cells and germ line cells. Developmental Biology, pp. 182-191.

Müller, W. A., Teo, R. & Frank, U., 2004. Totipotent migratory stem cells in a hydroid. Developmental Biology, Volume 275, pp. 215-224.

Murphy, S. & David, C. N., 1977. Characterisation of interstitial stem cells in hydra by cloning. Developmental Biology, 58(2), pp. 372-383.

Varley, Á. et al., 2023. Pluripotent, germ cell competent adult stem cells underlie cnidarian regenerative ability and clonal growth. Current Biology, 33(10), pp. 1883-1892.

Wagner, D. E., Wang, I. E. & Reddien, P. W., 2011. Clonogenic neoblasts are pluripotent adult stem cells that underlie planarian regeneration. Science, 332(6031), pp. 811-816.

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June 2023

If you have been on Twitter or read the news recently, you have probably seen this Guardian article on stem cell-based human embryo models, or one of the other pieces of news coverage. This sparked some debate over how scientific data should be covered in the media. Should data without a preprint or paper be reported in the news? How should scientists talk about their results with journalists?

Following the Guardian article, the Zernicka-Goetz group and Hanna Group each released a preprint on post-implantation embryo models:

Transgene directed induction of a stem cell-derived human embryo model | bioRxiv

Transgene-Free Ex Utero Derivation of A Human Post-Implantation Embryo Model Solely from Genetically Unmodified Naïve PSCs | bioRxiv

These two preprints grabbed the headlines, but a couple of other articles were also made available at the same time that are worth a look:

Modelling Human Post-Implantation Development via Extra-Embryonic Niche Engineering | bioRxiv

Dissecting peri-implantation development using cultured human embryos and embryo-like assembloids | bioRxiv

What else has been happening in the stem cell biology field? Here is a recap:

• Developing guidance on stem cell use and stem cell-based embryo models
• Survey to assess inclusivity

Developing guidance on stem cell use and stem cell-based embryo models

Project launched to provide guidance on research using human stem cell-based embryo models | University of Cambridge

In light on the fast-developing field of embryo models, the scientific community is acting to produce a governance framework for research involving stem cell-based human embryo models. This includes a project recently launched by the University of Cambridge.

Standards Document — International Society for Stem Cell Research (isscr.org)

The ISSCR released their Standards for Human Stem Cell Use in Research, which “identifies quality standards and outlines basic core principles for the laboratory use of both tissue and pluripotent human stem cells and the in vitro model systems that rely on them.” This document also includes guidelines on best practice for reporting on studies using human stem cell systems.

Survey to assess inclusivity

The ISSCR and several scientific societies have created a survey to assess whether individuals feel included in their societies, in the workplace, and in the broader biology/scientific community. Participate in this survey to share your experience: The ISSCR Participates with Scientific Societies on Survey to Assess Inclusivity — International Society for Stem Cell Research

And finally, have you ever heard of the police being called to a scientific conference because the conference hall was overcrowded? This happened at ISSCR2023.

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If you can’t attend the European Developmental Biology Congress in person this September, why not organise a local Watch Party?

Excitement is ramping up for the European Developmental Biology Congress which will take place 25-28^th September this year. This will be a celebratory meeting distributed across three beautiful locations: Oxford, Paris and Barcelona, packed with exciting science, social events, medal talks and even chances to try Tai Chi, experience embryology-inspired Virtual Reality art and go punting with your fellow developmental biologists. You can read more about our plans here  and you can check out the programme and register here.

For anyone who can’t travel to attend the meeting in person, there will be the option to watch talks online. But, we know that watching a conference remotely can sometimes feel a little lonely, with no one to discuss the talks with over a delicious conference coffee.

So…. why not plan an #EDBCWatchParty?  

             “Our lab organised an outdoor watch party in my garden for the 2021 hybrid BSDB Spring Meeting and it was great. I’d definitely do something like that again”

 Kyra Campbell, University of Sheffield

            “We hope to gather together Developmental Biologists from across Edinburgh to watch EDBC2023 in a university seminar room, perhaps with a local poster session. We will encourage people to bring home bakes so we might even include a Great Developmental Biology Bake Off competition!”  

Tamina Lebek and Guillaume Blin, University of Edinburgh

            “Our lab are excited about the talks at EDBC, but some of us can’t make it in person so we’re very keen on the idea of coming together to watch the talks online. We’ll spread the word around Cambridge for any other developmental  biologists who’d like to join us”

Ben Steventon, University of Cambridge

If you are thinking of giving this a go, we’d love to hear about it so please feel free to drop us a line at  meetings@bsdb.org or post on twitter or mastodon with the hashtag #EDBCWatchParty

Sally Lowell, Shankar Srinivas and Paul Martin

BSDB organisers of  EDBC2023

(3 votes)

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Lab website: Gerri Lab

Where is the lab?

The lab is in the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in the lovely Dresden (Germany).

Research summary

Mammals evolved divergent architectures of placenta to receive nourishment from the mother during embryogenesis. In our lab, we seek to understand how the uterine microenvironment shapes the fetal-placental interface of various animals, by using early embryos and placental organoids. Our ultimate goal is to investigate how complex and diverse structures emerge to achieve similar function.

Lab roll call

Michi: lab technician. I like to help in any situations and projects. Also, I like to work on my own little project, which is focused on discovering similarities and differences in early embryonic development of different species of mammalian pre-implantation embryos. 

Johanna: PhD student. I work on the role of oxygen sensing mechanisms during early human placenta development. 

Ornella: master student. I am investigating the impact of specific genetic mutation on human trophoblast stem cell differentiation and trophoblast organoid self-organization.

Weiwei: bachelor student. My project is focused on testing different live imaging approaches on 2D and 3D culturing systems.

Favourite technique, and why?

Claudia: My favourite approach in studying biology is imaging. I am fond of everything that allows us to visualize biological processes. It is in this way that we can describe new phenomena and decipher how biology works. Analysis of both live and fixed samples, for example using immunofluorescence or transgenic lines, accompanied by microscopy at different resolutions can allow us to look at biological samples at different scales, from intracellular tiny structures to multicellular complex tissues.

Apart from your own research, what are you most excited about in developmental and stem cell biology?

Claudia: Biological processes require a complex coordination of genetic, molecular and physical events in space and time. Several physical principles have helped understanding developmental processes in a more unified way. I am always impressed when reading multidisciplinary papers where experimentalists and theorists work together to identify emerging principles of the living matter.

This is why I have decided to join the MPI-CBG and the Dresden campus in general, where scientists across disciplines, biology and physics, actively work together. I hope with time to develop collaborations into this direction.

How do you approach managing your group and all the different tasks required in your job?

Claudia: We are a young lab, so I believe that at this stage it is important for me to be focused on the science and to be there for the lab members. I am still active in the lab and I try to be available to answer queries and discuss issues when the team members require to do so. In addition to institute seminars and conferences, I try to organize opportunities for the team to interact with other labs working with similar and different topics (e.g. lab retreat with Huch, Veenvliet and Toth-Petroczy Labs, but also joint lab meetings with Rodenfels Lab).

In general, to manage all the tasks required for this job, I try to plan my goals monthly, weekly and daily.

I am still learning and when in doubts I ask advice to other young group leaders and mentors.

What is the best thing about where you work? 

Claudia: I have experience in other institutes, bigger and smaller than the MPI-CBG. I think the MPI-CBG is great in many aspects. MPI-CBG is an internationally renowned institute and that is why many great scientists from around the world come here to give talks. Also, the MPI-CBG is big enough to have diversity in terms of science and people, but also it has the right size to allow people to interact after seminars, or in the canteen. This really helps to create a tight community, where newcomers are welcome and can easily integrate into the institute.

We have also great excellent facilities helping us in our daily routine (e.g. organoid stem cell facility) or in developing new tools (e.g. genome engineering facility or technology development studio).

Michi: I like studying the develop of the placenta, because we discover unique aspects of developmental biology. I also really like the institute with its great facilities and the great international people working here. Also, there are small things, like the smell of coffee when you enter the building. All these reasons make me happy to come to work!

Johanna: I really like the way service is provided by all the facilities, and the sense of community. People of the lab and general from the institute are always very happy to help and support me with my projects.

Ornella: In my opinion, what makes the Gerri Lab truly exceptional is the continual support and guidance you get from everyone. We all have different backgrounds and personalities, but we have a great balance that makes the lab a fun and enjoyable place to be. 

The Institute’s greatest aspect is the tight-knit community, where we all come together. Thanks to the international and interdisciplinary environment, there are abundant opportunities for personal growth and learning. Being exposed to internationally renowned researchers adds immense value to my experience. Plus, I particularly enjoy the social events, where we can relax and have a good time.

Weiwei: I really like the lab environment, everyone is very helpful, caring and patient. There are seminars to follow and many other activities, also a weekly get-together.

What’s there to do outside of the lab?

Claudia: Dresden is a great city to live in! I find that there are things for every taste. There is Altstadt, where you can go to visit museums and learn more about history. There are residential areas with amazing parks, where is great to spend time with the family. There is Neustadt, which is the vibrant and young part of the city. There is also amazing nature nearby.

Michi: I think Dresden is a great city with many things to do. Most of the city rivers are folded in concrete but we have the Elbe-meadows where you can bike, run, walk, having a picnic or even skiing in winter. In summer there is an outside theatre next to the river with an amazing view on Dresdens historical Altstadt. I love going on hikes in the unique Sächsische Schweiz.

Also, Dresden is the best place to raise a kid! There are so many playgrounds, museums, sportive or cultural offers.

Johanna: Dresden is great for walks through parks, the forest and also the historic center. There are also several people of the institute that organise free time activities such as volleyball, soccer or improv theatre.

Ornella: Dresden has it all! You can go on awesome hikes or bike rides surrounded by beautiful nature. In the lively Neustadt neighborhood, you can hang out, grab a drink or beer, and have a great time with friends. If you’re into techno music, Dresden is the place to be! 

(2 votes)

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In our latest SciArt profile, we spoke to Frank Macabenta, a developmental biologist who freelances as a scientific illustrator. Franks share with us his lab’s work on quality control mechanisms regulating organogenesis in the fly embryo, and how art influenced his decision to pursue studies in developmental biology.

Can you tell us about your background and what you work on now?

I am an immigrant and first-generation scientist. My family emigrated from the Philippines to the island of Guam when I was very young, which is where I lived for most of my early life. I studied biology at the University of Guam, initially with aspirations of going to medical school; however, after trying out research in Dr. Mari Marutani’s vegetable horticulture lab at the UOG College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, I decided to change my trajectory and focus on pursuing a career in research. I wasn’t sure what I ultimately wanted to study, but I was lucky enough to be selected for a summer research opportunity at Rutgers University just before starting my senior year, where I worked in the lab of Dr. Sunita Kramer. I fell in love with the Drosophila model system and developmental biology in Sunita’s lab, where we used confocal microscopy to study heart tube formation in the embryo. I ended up applying for grad school at Rutgers, where I conducted my doctoral thesis work in Sunita’s lab. After obtaining my PhD, I decided to stick with Drosophila as a model system (while also seeking warmer climes!) and worked as a postdoc in Dr. Angelike Stathopoulos’ lab at the California Institute of Technology, where I studied the genetic programs that guide the collective migration of a small population of muscle precursors in the Drosophila embryo called the caudal visceral mesoderm (CVM). CVM cells undergo collective migration along the length of the embryo to form the longitudinal fibers of the larval midgut muscles. We not only identified a number of complex multi-tissue interactions that drive CVM collective behavior, but also learned a lot about the intersecting signaling pathways that control growth and cell death to ensure stereotyped assembly of these muscles. I am currently an Assistant Professor at the California State University, Monterey Bay, where I teach both introductory and advanced courses in general and developmental biology, as well as run a research lab where we continue to study quality control mechanisms regulating organogenesis in the fly embryo.

Were you always going to be a scientist?

I definitely believe I was always going to be pursuing science in some capacity — since I was a little kid, I enjoyed going out in the yard to observe and collect various insects, or making a mess in the kitchen after seeing some experiment demonstrated in a TV show (often to my mother’s chagrin!). My parents encouraged and nurtured my love for science by buying every book, even gifting me with a simple compound microscope and slide-making kit — however, in my culture, children who have an affinity for science are typically expected to pursue a degree in medicine. I rationalized the choice of studying to become an MD as a career path that would still allow me to do science, and held onto this aspiration all the way up to college. However, my first research experience at the University of Guam under the auspices of an NIH Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program, combined with some conversations with my professors convinced me to fully embrace scientific research as a career goal.

And what about art – have you always enjoyed it?

Art has always been a passion of mine. Growing up as an only child with few children my age in the neighborhood, drawing was an outlet that allowed me to express my imagination. Like my love for science, my parents also indulged my love for art — I’ve dabbled in pretty much every medium while growing up. Art also influenced my decision to pursue studies in developmental biology; I was awed by the beautiful high-resolution images that one can obtain of immunostained tissues. In a way, developmental biology research combines two of my greatest passions!

What or who are your most important artistic influences?

I would say I’m heavily influenced by detailed sci-fi/fantasy art. Growing up, I admired the works of artists like James Gurney, who combined meticulous depictions of dinosaurs with fantastical scenes for ‘Dinotopia,’ evoking a world where humans and dinosaurs coexist. As a cell biologist, I also greatly admire the work of Dr. David Goodsell — his ability to bring biomolecules and the spectacular, microscopic worlds they inhabit represent a truly elegant union of science and art!

How do you make your art?

I typically use black and white media like pencil and pen on paper for sketches and such. Some time back I bought myself a drawing tablet and started dabbling in digital art. I didn’t go through any formal training, so it’s been a lot of trial and error for me. I used to use the GNU Image Manipulation Program to make pieces, but I’ve since moved on to using Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop.

Does your art influence your science at all, or are they separate worlds?

Art definitely has a profound influence on my field of research! Throughout the grad school and postdoc phases of my career, I often illustrated figures (and occasionally cover art) for manuscripts in addition to benchwork.  My lab studies how embryonic muscles undergo precise and highly-stereotyped patterning, so my group spends a lot of time collecting images of immunostained cells. Scoring defects in muscle assembly takes quite a bit of observation and pattern recognition, which are skills that both artists and developmental biologists use regularly. Trying to understand the various phenotypes we observe also takes quite a bit of creative thinking — I think a lot of people underestimate how big a role imagination plays in planning and executing studies!

What are you thinking of working on next?

I’m thinking of creating more fruit fly-related work. I love the Drosophila research community, and want to inspire my students to see the beauty in studying developmental biology through model organisms like the fruit fly!

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