7.342 Reading the Blueprint of Life: Transcription, Stem Cells and Differentiation, Fall 2006
Author(s)
Guenther, Matthew
Kumar, Roshan
Alternative Title
Reading the Blueprint of Life: Transcription, Stem Cells and Differentiation
Date Issued
December 2006
Abstract
In this course, we will address how transcriptional regulators both prohibit and drive differentiation during the course of development. How does a stem cell know when to remain a stem cell and when to become a specific cell type? Are there global differences in the way the genome is read in multipotent and terminally differentiated cells? We will explore how stem cell pluripotency is preserved, how master regulators of cell-fate decisions execute developmental programs, and how chromatin regulators control undifferentiated versus differentiated states. Additionally, we will discuss how aberrant regulation of transcriptional regulators produces disorders such as developmental defects and cancer.This course is one of many Advanced Undergraduate Seminars offered by the Biology Department at MIT. These seminars are tailored for students with an interest in using primary research literature to discuss and learn about current biological research in a highly interactive setting. Many instructors of the Advanced Undergraduate Seminars are postdoctoral scientists with a strong interest in teaching.
Subjects
blueprint of life
transcription
stem cells
differentiation
human tissues
tissue regeneration
human disease
RNA and protein expression patterns
transcriptional regulation
specialized gene expression programs
genome
multipotent
terminally differentiated
pluripotency
master regulators
chromatin regulators
developmental defects
cancer
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology
Terms of Use
This site (c) Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2023. Content within individual courses is (c) by the individual authors unless otherwise noted. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is providing this Work (as defined below) under the terms of this Creative Commons public license ("CCPL" or "license") unless otherwise noted. The Work is protected by copyright and/or other applicable law. Any use of the work other than as authorized under this license is prohibited. By exercising any of the rights to the Work provided here, You (as defined below) accept and agree to be bound by the terms of this license. The Licensor, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, grants You the rights contained here in consideration of Your acceptance of such terms and conditions.
Persistent DSpace Link
