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In this genetically engineered C. elegans, neurons that respond to cannabinoids appear green.Credit: Stacy Levichev(CC BY-SA)
Roundworms exposed to cannabis chemicals get the munchies a persistent hunger for tasty food just like people do, a study has found. When under the influence, Caenorhabditis elegans worms choose to feed for longer than normal, and show a stronger preference for their favourite high-quality foods over less nutritious options.
The study, published on 20 April in Current Biology1, suggests that the mechanism by which cannabis affects appetite evolved more than 500 million years ago, when the evolutionary paths of C. elegans and humans diverged. This commonality across the animal kingdom suggests that C. elegans could be used to study how cannabis affects the human nervous system.
The more we know at a basic level about drug physiology, the more healthy our society will ultimately be, says Shawn Lockery, a neuroscientist at the University of Oregon in Eugene who led the research.
Lockery and his colleagues were inspired to carry out the experiments after the state of Oregon legalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2015. We had marijuana on the brain, in a conceptual sense, he says.
Cannabinoid molecules derived from the cannabis plant bind to the same receptors as molecules naturally found in the body, called endocannabinoids. Those receptors are found in the brain and many other tissues, and the endocannabinoid system is thought to regulate key functions, such as sleep, memory, anxiety and eating.
The research group already specialized in food-choice assays that involve putting C. elegans in a T-shaped maze containing two food options and observing which the worms choose to approach. To investigate the behavioural effects of cannabinoids, the researchers immersed the worms in a solution of the endocannabinoid anandamide before placing them in the maze.
Video of C. elegans worms in a T-maze (at 180x speed). Nutritionally superior food is at the end of the left arm; inferior food is at the end of the right arm. Credit: Aaron Schatz(CC BY-SA)
At first, it was just a quick test. We soaked the worms just to see if they would we were hoping get the munchies, Lockery said.
The worms that received this endocannabinoid bath did seem to develop a bigger appetite. When in the maze, they showed a stronger preference for nutritionally superior bacteria than did their sober peers, and spent more time eating. Worms under the influence also showed less interest in nutritionally inferior bacteria. These effects showed up only in C. elegans that had working endocannabinoid receptors.
The thing that surprised me was how tightly it all fit together, says Lockery.
In subsequent experiments, the researchers tested endocannabinoids on worms genetically engineered to have human cannabinoid receptors. The modified worms responded in the same way. The researchers pinpointed the effect of cannabinoids to one of the main food-detecting olfactory neurons, which, in worms given the drug, became more sensitive to the odours of preferred food and less sensitive to the smells of inferior food.
Past research has shown that cannabinoids cause this kind of hedonic feeding in mammals other than humans, including rats and primates. The latest work adds C. elegans to the list, indicating that cannabinoid receptors and cannabinoid-influenced behaviours evolved a long time ago, says Kent Berridge, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
We did know that neurotransmitters are ancient and conserved going way, way back, Berridge says. But that it has this same function of promoting eating, especially, in this case, nutrient-rich foods thats remarkable.
The similarities suggest that C. elegans could provide a cost-effective way to model how cannabis-derived compounds affect the nervous system in people.
Cannabis research will continue to expand as the drug becomes legal in more regions, says Anne Hart, a neuroscientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. It used to be that studying these compounds was really hard, says Hart. Were going to learn a lot more in this field over the next five or ten years as you let researchers figure out how these compounds really work.
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Drugs give biology's favourite worms the munchies too - Nature.com
Scientists have long been intrigued by the remarkable properties of spider silk, which is stronger than steel yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. Now, Fuzhong Zhang, a professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, has made a significant breakthrough in the fabrication of synthetic spider silk, paving the way for a new era of sustainable clothing production.
Since engineering recombinant spider silk in 2018 using bacteria, Zhang has been working to increase the yield of silk threads produced from microbes while maintaining its desirable properties of enhanced strength and toughness.
Higher yields will be critical if synthetic silk is to be used in everyday applications, particularly in the fashion industry where renewable materials are much in demand to stem the environmental impacts that come from producing an estimated 100 billion garments and 92 million tons of waste each year.
With the help of an engineered mussel foot protein, Zhang has created new spider silk fusion proteins, called bi-terminal Mfp fused silks (btMSilks). Microbial production of btMSilks have eightfold higher yields than recombinant silk proteins, and the btMSilk fibers have substantially improved strength and toughness while being lightweight. This could revolutionize clothing manufacturing by providing a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional textiles. The findings were published April 14 in Nature Communications.
"The outstanding mechanical properties of natural spider silk come from its very large and repetitive protein sequence," Zhang said. "However, it is extremely challenging to ask fast-growing bacteria to produce a lot of repetitive proteins.
"To solve this problem, we needed a different strategy," he said. "We went looking for disordered proteins that can be genetically fused to silk fragments to promote molecular interaction, so that strong fibers can be made without using large repetitive proteins. And we actually found them right here in work we've already been doing on mussel foot proteins."
Mussels secrete these specialized proteins on their feet to stick to things. Zhang and his collaborators have engineered bacteria to produce them and engineer them as adhesives for biomedical applications. As it turns out, mussel foot proteins are also cohesive, which enables them to stick to each other well, too. By placing mussel foot protein fragments at the ends of his synthetic silk protein sequences, Zhang created a less repetitive, lightweight material that's at least twice as strong as recombinant spider silk.
The yields on Zhang's material increased eightfold compared with past studies, reaching 8 grams of fiber material from 1 liter of bacterial culture. This output constitutes enough fabric to test for use in real products.
"The beauty of synthetic biology is that we have lots of space to explore," Zhang said. "We can cut and paste sequences from various natural proteins and test these designs in the lab for new properties and functions. This makes synthetic biology materials much more versatile than traditional petroleum-based materials."
In coming work, Zhang and his team will expand the tunable properties of their synthetic silk fibers to meet the exact needs of each specialized market.
"Because our synthetic silk is made from cheap feedstock using engineered bacteria, it presents a renewable and biodegradable replacement for petroleum-derived fiber materials like nylon and polyester," Zhang said.
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Synthetic biology meets fashion in engineered silk - Science Daily
Chicago, April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The synthetic biology industry is expected to experience rapid growth in the near future. Companies are increasingly investing in the research and development of synthetic biology, which is leading to a wide range of applications in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing availability of data and tools, the potential to produce new products, and the potential to reduce costs. In addition, the emergence of new technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9, which allows for precise genetic manipulation, is likely to accelerate the development of synthetic biology. In the coming years, the industry is expected to expand across multiple sectors, from biotechnology to healthcare and manufacturing. This is likely to create a range of opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and companies looking to capitalize on the potential of synthetic biology.
Synthetic Biology market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $11.4 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $35.7 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25.6% from 2022 to 2027 according to a latest report published by MarketsandMarkets. Declining cost of DNA sequencing, increased investment in R&D and rise in number of fundings for synthetic biology are some of the major factors propelling the growth of this market. However, biosafety, biosecurity, and ethical concerns related to synthetic biology is likely to hamper the growth of this market.
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Synthetic Biology Market Scope:
Based on tools, the synthetic biology market is broadly segmented into oligonucleotides & synthetic DNA, enzymes, cloning technology kits, synthetic cells, chassis organisms, and xeno-nucleic acids. In 2021, oligonucleotides & synthetic DNA segment accounted for the largest share. The dominance of the segment is attributable to factors such as increasing demand for synthetic DNA, synthetic RNA, and synthetic genes, which are used in a wide range of applications across various industries.
Based on application, the synthetic biology market is segmented into medical applications, industrial applications, food & agriculture, and environmental applications. In 2021, medical applications segment accounted for the largest share of synthetic biology market. Factors such as the widespread research on novel treatment coupled with the availability of huge private and public funding are some of the major factors driving the segmental growth.
The global synthetic biology market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. In 2021, North America dominated the synthetic biology market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific respectively. Asia Pacific region is likely to grow at faster pace during the forecast period of 2022-2027. The factors attributable to the faster growth rate are increasing investment in synthetic biology owing to higher adoption in various applications. The overall share of this region in the global market is gradually increasing, owing to growth in research activities and biologic therapeutics manufacturing. High-growth regions such as China, Japan, Australia, and Singapore are expected to be major contributors to the Asia Pacific synthetic biology market.
Key Market Players:
Key market players operating in synthetic biology market players are Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Agilent Technologies (US), Novozymes (Denmark), Amyris (US), Precigen (US), GenScript Biotech (China), Twist Bioscience (US), Codexis (US), and Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg).
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Hypothetic Challenges of Synthetic Biology Market in Near Future:
Top 3 Use Cases of Synthetic Biology Market:
Recent Developments:
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Synthetic Biology Market is Expected to Reach $35.7 billion ... - GlobeNewswire
April 26, 2023 10:17 AM | 3 min read
BERNARDSVILLE, N.J., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anima Biotech, the leader in the discovery of small molecule mRNA drugs and their mechanisms of action by phenotypic screening with AI driven MOA elucidation, announced today the launch of a groundbreaking webinar series in partnership with leading life science media outlets. The series will provide up-to-date, high-quality information on mRNA biology, a game-changing approach that is revolutionizing drug discovery and opening doors to new therapeutic possibilities.
The pharmaceutical industry is eagerly exploring mRNA biology as a major wave of innovation, but the field is complex and not well understood. Anima Biotech's webinar series aims to bridge this knowledge gap by providing valuable insights into the latest advancements in mRNA regulation research and their impact on drug discovery. By partnering with leading life science media outlets, Anima Biotech is committed to delivering high-quality, free educational content that will drive innovation in drug discovery and ultimately benefit patients worldwide.
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The webinar series will cover a range of topics, including mRNA regulation pathways and target space, approaches to discover and validate mechanisms of action and novel targets, and the development of cutting-edge technologies tailored to specific stages of the mRNA life cycle. Anima Biotech is excited to partner with Endpoints for its first webinar in the series, "Exposing Hidden Targets within the mRNA Regulation Space," which will feature Anima Biotech's chief scientific officer and co-founder, Iris Alroy, Ph.D., and Michael Kharas, Ph.D., a world-renowned cancer biologist and expert in RNA regulation from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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During the webinar, Drs. Alroy and Kharas will discuss the latest advancements in mRNA regulation research and the impact of these findings on drug discovery. The webinar will delve into the complex and finely tuned processes of mRNA regulation, exploring how a deeper comprehension of the regulatory mechanisms governing mRNA translation can uncover new targets for drug discovery and therapeutic intervention.
To register for the free webinar, please visit https://webinars.endpts.com/exposing-hidden-targets-within-the-mrna-regulation-space/.
About Anima Biotech
Anima Biotech is advancing mRNA Lightning, a novel platform for the discovery of small molecule mRNA drugs and their mechanisms of action. Our differentiated approach combines high scale phenotypic screening that automates millions of experiments in live mRNA biology with MOAi technology using AI to elucidate the mechanism of action of active molecules. Our approach has been validated by our collaborations with Lilly, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and AbbVie and a broad pipeline across 20 different discovery programs in various therapeutic areas. With our deep expertise in mRNA biology, we were able to advance our programs at an unprecedented speed and success rate. Anima's wholly owned pipeline is in Immunology (Collagen I mRNA biology modulators, preclinical stage in lung fibrosis and applicable across many fibrotic diseases), Oncology (c-Myc mRNA biology modulators and mutation agnostic mKras mRNA biology modulators), and Neuroscience (Tau - Alzheimer's disease and Pain - Nav1.7 mRNA biology modulators). Our science was further validated with seven patents, 15 peer-reviewed publications and 17 scientific collaborations. For more information about Anima Biotech, please visit our website at https://www.animabiotech.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @AnimaBiotech.
Media Contact:Andrew MielachLifeSci Communications+1.646.876.5868amielach@lifescicomms.com
2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a Science & Tech Spotlight on synthetic biology on April 17, 2023. GAO defines synthetic biology as a multidisciplinary field of biotechnology that involves engineering the genetic material of organisms -- such as viruses, bacteria, yeast, plants, or animals -- to have new characteristics. According to GAO, scientists are currently exploring the use of synthetic biology to address environmental challenges by engineering organisms to use carbon dioxide, produce biofuels for vehicles, and transform methane into biodegradable plastics. GAO notes that the synthetic biology market could grow from about $10 billion in 2021 to between $37 billion and $100 billion dollars by 2030. Opportunities include:
GAO notes the following challenges:
GAO concludes the Science & Tech Spotlight with the following policy context and questions:
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GAO Science and Tech Spotlight Describes Benefits of Synthetic ... - Lexology
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue Universitys Agricultural and Biological Engineering graduate program is ranked No. 1 in its category in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Graduate Schools. The ABE graduate and undergraduate programs have been ranked first or second for more than a dozen years.
We are extremely proud of Purdue ABEs team of faculty, staff and students for their commitment to research, outreach, teaching and innovation, said Ken Foster, interim dean of the College of Agriculture.
Nate Mosier, department head and professor of agricultural and biological engineering, also credits his colleagues for this accomplishment. Were honored for the continued recognition of the excellence in research and graduate education in ABE at Purdue. It is through the outstanding work of our graduate students, mentoring of our faculty and support of our staff that we have stayed at the top for so long.
Mosier, who earned his doctorate from Purdues ABE department and holds the Indiana Soybean Alliance Soybean Utilization Endowed Chair, explains that ABEs diverse disciplines create important options for graduate students.
Our graduate program offers numerous opportunities for graduate students to deepen their understanding in their areas of specialization and to broaden that knowledge through collaborations, he said.
Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, said the No. 1 ranking also acknowledges the departments commitment to growth: The field of agricultural and biological engineering is rapidly evolving with disruptive technologies such as synthetic biology, IoT (the Internet of Things), automation and artificial intelligence. Purdues ABE department has been quick to adapt to these changes, and this ranking validates its reputation during this period of rapid transformation in the field.
ABEs graduate program includes 118 students who come to the university from around the world. Last year ABEs faculty and graduate students published 160 research papers, filed 31 patent applications and were awarded nine U.S. patents.
Photos and captions: purdue.ag/abe-assets
Writer: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 317-366-5550
Source: Nate Mosier, mosiern@purdue.edu, 765-494-1162
Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;
Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
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Purdue Agricultural and Biological Engineering graduate program ... - Purdue University
By Abigail Lauten-Scrivner, UM News Service
MISSOULA When Wyatt Walters retires, he hopes to reflect on his life as one thats been in service to others. That is, if he isnt too busy starting a whole new career.
A senior University of Montana biology student with a biochemistry minor, Walters also is completing a Franke Global Leadership Initiative certificate and is a recipient of the James M. Wylder Presidential Leadership Scholarship in the Davidson Honors College. His resume includes working with patients in an Alzheimer's care center and helping research the disease at the McLaughlin Research Institute, volunteering for youth organizations such as Flagship, tutoring students in chemistry with UM Study Jam and serving as a certified nursing assistant.
The common thread between all of Walters pursuits? Each build on his dream of becoming a pediatrician serving children in rural Montana.
Kids crack me up, theyre so darn funny, Walters said. It never feels like work.
Finding curiosity and joy in what, to many, would feel like work is part of what drives Walters success in his numerous ambitions. But his career dreams stem deeper into his roots, reaching all the way back to his childhood. Walters grew up on a cattle ranch in Vaughn, a small town near Great Falls, raised by two parents who both worked as medical professionals.
Like most rural parts of the country, primary care in remote areas of the state lag behind urban centers and the need for pediatric care is even more acute. General pediatricians per 100,000 residents numbered fewer than eight in rural communities compared to nearly 15 in urban parts of Montana in 2021, according to a University of Washington report. Walters hopes to attend medical school at UW as part of WWAMI, a multi-state medical education program to alleviate health care shortages in rural Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.
Walters wasnt always enthusiastic about living in a rural community, but he came to appreciate his hometown. When he wasnt helping out on the ranch, he spent his childhood skiing, hiking and fishing in his backyard on the Sun River.
Looking back on it, I'm super lucky, Walters said. I really love Montana.
While growing up with parents who both work in the medical field may make it seem that Walters was predestined to become a doctor, he said his parents helped cultivate his aspirations but never pushed him into pursuing a career as a physician. They supported his natural interests in medicine, biology and helping others, encouraging him to become a better student of science.
That innate scientific curiosity was further cemented at Great Falls Central Catholic High School. Walters took an AP biology class with Kris Warren, a science teacher who would go on to serve as both a source of inspiration and a role model for Walters. Warren taught him to think of the human body as a puzzle to be solved an idea that he found captivating. When college approached, Walters decided to become a lifelong student of science.
Walters is the first to admit that UM wasnt his initial pick, but upon stepping on campus for a tour, he was met with a welcoming atmosphere and supportive faculty and staff in the DHC and pre-medical sciences program. Walters realized attending UM meant gaining a team of people who would help him succeed.
I realized that if I needed assistance, they would have my back, he said.
That team of people came to include DHC faculty member Dr. Bruce Hardy, who taught Walters in his Ways of Knowing course freshman year.
Wyatt was outstanding from the day he walked into class, Hardy said.
Hardy hasnt had Walters in his class for three years, but his immediate enthusiasm and thoughtfulness left an impression that lasted after the semester ended. Their shared interests led Hardy to continue mentoring Walters throughout his academic journey. Hardy worked as a pediatrician and pediatric cardiologist for about 40 years before joining DHC faculty, giving him unique insight into how to prepare Walters for success after UM.
Hardy said hes confident Walters will graduate prepared to become a great pediatrician not only because he has the smarts to do well on his exams but, more importantly, because of his compassionate temperament and genuine curiosity.
Lots of students can learn a lot and memorize, but Wyatt is curious about human nature and doing the right thing, Hardy said. I know he will be an amazing pediatrician. He is made for this career.
Coming to UM also allowed Walters to test his ambitions himself, taking him out of the familiarity of Montana and into rural villages around Kabale, Uganda, for a medical internship. The experience was part of completing the GLI certificates Beyond the Classroom learning requirement.
Volunteering at pop-up HIV and maternal clinics, Walters spent last summer rising early to care for long lines of patients while making due with a lack of resources. The highlight of the internship was watching a doctor safely perform a cesarean delivery of a premature baby. Walters said the opportunity was a teaching moment hell never forget. The experience confirmed hes on the right track, and inspired him to join Doctors Without Borders someday in the future.
But for now, Walters plans to take a gap year after graduation to earn his EMT license before applying to medical school. Hes already started studying for the MCAT.
Walters has his retirement plan figured out, too: teaching high school biology and inspiring more students to love science.
###
Contact: Dave Kuntz, UM director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.
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Aspiring Doctor Finds Mentorship, Inspiration and Real-World ... - University of Montana
The biology department recently underwent several staff shifts, resulting in course selection changes and some confusion among students.
This year, assistant biology professor Khadijah Mitchell is leaving the department for a job at Temple University. Matt Fischl, another visiting assistant professor of biology, is transferring to the neuroscience program.
Additionally, assistant professor of biology Daniel Strmbom will be on research sabbatical next semester.
James Dearworth, the biology department head, said that the department had been searching for a visiting assistant professor and is now planning to begin the process of hiring a new assistant professor.
There is a plan and it seems stressful but its actually the way its typically done, Dearworth said about the process of hiring faculty. The one atypical part was just finding out suddenly [about some professors leaving]. Thats not typical.
When courses for fall 2023 were announced, biology majors, especially underclassmen, were left with fewer options for courses than expected.
Initially, I was stressed about what biology courses to register for, biology major Grace Voss 26 wrote in an email.
Biology major Mae Maddox 26 said that there was a struggle because there were barely any spots in any of the other classes.
The process of offering additional courses, especially so close to and during course registration, requires a lot of thought, according to Dearworth. However, many professors stepped up to create more courses and spaces for students in the wake of staffing changes.
BIOL 113 Quantitative Biology is a requirement for the Biology B.S. and B.A. major. It was not originally offered for the fall 2023 semester, leaving many students wondering when they would be able to take the required course.
I was so worried that it wouldnt be true, Kelsie Bouyer 26 said of claims that BIOL 113 might not be offered in the spring. I was under the impression that you could only take [BIOL 113] in the fall.
One section each of the BIOL 113 class and lab was eventually made available by Eric Ho, an associate professor of biology. Two sections of BIOL 113 will also be taught in the spring semester.
Usually my schedule is to teach it in the spring instead of the fall because in the fall I already lined up two classes, Ho said. I got some feedback from students If they have such a need, then I [will] teach three classes.
Rising sophomores typically take BIOL 113 in the fall of their sophomore year in accordance with therecommended course schedule for biology majors. However, with only one section of the course being offered with twenty spots, many looked to take a different biology course.
I thought I had a better chance, Maddox said about her enrollment in BIOL 213, a biology elective taught by Dearworth. This course was originally not going to be offered, yet he added the course as an additional option for students. Dearworth also increased the lab capacity the night before registration for first-years to [provide] some other registration options, according to an email he sent out to rising biology sophomores.
In addition to courses offered by Ho and Dearworth, many other professors are now overloading their course offerings for next semester.
For example, BIOL 215 Phytopathology was replaced with BIOL 255 Molecular Genetics, a course required for biochemistry majors. Last minute, it was also announced that associate professor of biology Nancy Waters would be teaching BIOL 223 Environmental Problem Solving in Biology.
Another option for biology students is to take 300-level biology electives without the typical 200-level prerequisite for the course. Biology professor Robert Kurt has almost always waived the requirement for BIOL 345 Infectious Disease and BIOL 245 Immunology when students inquired.
I was torn between registering for BIOL 113 and BIOL 345, Voss 26 wrote. BIOL 345 is an elective that I find really interesting I am not sure when [it] will be offered again, so while I have the opportunity to take it, I want to.
While many students had been receiving emails about updates to course selections, some students were still left in the dark about new information.
If I didnt hear about it from my friend, I wouldnt have known that [BIOL 113] was up there, Bouyer, who was not on the email list, said.
Despite the challenges that some faced, Voss did appreciate the communication attempts from the department regarding course changes.
I was impressed with how the Biology department handled this period of transition, Voss wrote. I think they did a good job communicating with first-year students and adding spots and creating new classes for students to take a biology course.
[Students] education is our priority, Ho said. We always try to see what we can do, adjusting to make more courses available.
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PEN CULTURE Biology department staffing shuffle causes headaches - The Lafayette
Cassandra Thomas
Selom Ametepe
Selom Ametepe, an international doctoral student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program in the Graduate School and International Education of the U of A, won a $50,000 Faculty for the Future Fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation.
The fellowship program works to accelerate gender equity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics by breaking down barriers women face in pursuing scientific careers, specifically in developing and emerging nations. Specifically, the fellowships are awarded to women who are preparing for Ph.D. or post-doctoral study in STEM disciplines to pursue advanced graduate study at top universities in their disciplines abroad.
The funds will help Ametepe, who is a native of Togo, focus on her research toward her goal of becoming a faculty member.
"I'm excited about resources to advance my research," Ametepe said. "I'm excited to meet other women working in other STEM fields and getting to know about their research. I want to thank my adviser, Dr. Timothy Evans, for his unconditional support of my academic endeavors which led to me getting this fellowship. I am very grateful to him for creating a positive working environment where he facilitates our learning opportunities."
"I'm proud of Selom's development as a scientist, and I'm delighted that her potential for leadership has been recognized by the Schlumberger Foundation," said Evans, who is an associate professor of biological sciences. "She's been an essential part of our lab for the last couple of years, and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow her scientific and leadership skills with the support of this fellowship."
Ametepe's research focuses on the nervous system in fruit flies in hopes of transferring knowledge to the human nervous system. She is interested in the mechanisms that guide neurons extensions, axons to form connections with other neural or non-neural cells. She focuses specifically on the gene Roundabout3, which is critical to the development of the nervous system. Using a sophisticated genetic engineering technique called CRISPR gene editing, Ametepe is cutting some portions of the gene to see what parts are crucial for the function of the protein.
"My research will help us know specific ways that the gene controls development of the nervous system," she said.
Before coming to the U of A, Ametepe completed her undergraduate studies at the Universite de Lome, where she graduated with a bachelor's in biomedical sciences. She then worked for five years as a lab analyst at the National Institute of Health in Togo.
Her decision to undertake graduate studies was influenced by two people who she considers as role models: her father, who was a dedicated lab technician, and one of her professors, Dr. Satoguina, professor of immunoparasitology.
"Getting close to her and learning her work ethics gave me hopes and wings and reassured me that I could become a scientist as well," Ametepe said.
Faculty for the Future Fellows are expected to return to their home countries upon completion of their studies to contribute to the economic, social and technological advancement of their home regions by strengthening the STEM teaching and research faculties of their home institutions, as well as through their leadership in science-based entrepreneurship. They are also expected to contribute to the public sector ,where their newly acquired technical and scientific skills can help provide evidence-based support for STEM policy making, including topics of gender representation.
Since its launch in 2004, the program has awarded fellowships more than 800 women from 86 countries for Ph.D. and post-doctoralSTEM research programs. Faculty for the Future is the SLB Foundation's flagship program, a nonprofit organization that supports science and technology education.
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