Epigenetic Change Effects on Differentiated Embryonic Stem Cells in vitro and in vivo in Mice

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Cell and Molecular Biology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Ting Wang, Washington University School of Medicine

Abstract

Epigenetics determine gene expression. Learning more about the effects of epigenetics could lead to a new treatment method for genetic illnesses. This study shows whether similar epigenetic changes occur when neural stem cells differentiate in culture or in vivo. Differences in gene expression between the two samples could be the result of varied epigenomes. The study aims to shed light on the differences between the epigenetics of stem cells differentiated in vitro and in vivo in order to better understand the limitations of lab grown cultures. Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and motor neurons were successfully differentiated using growth factors and then sorted using florescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Samples were taken from live mice for comparison to cultured cells. These cells were verified and primers were identified to aid in determining the relative expression of genes in vitro versus in vivo. Some of the qPCR results were unexpected, however, we were successful in isolating the desired cell types through FACS. Future studies will further examine the impact that in vitro differentiation has on the gene expression of the cells. Understanding this could lead to a better understanding of the differences of samples in vitro and in vivo.

Location

Wall 209

Start Date

3-25-2017 9:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 9:15 AM

Epigenetic Change Effects on Differentiated Embryonic Stem Cells in vitro and in vivo in Mice

Wall 209

Epigenetics determine gene expression. Learning more about the effects of epigenetics could lead to a new treatment method for genetic illnesses. This study shows whether similar epigenetic changes occur when neural stem cells differentiate in culture or in vivo. Differences in gene expression between the two samples could be the result of varied epigenomes. The study aims to shed light on the differences between the epigenetics of stem cells differentiated in vitro and in vivo in order to better understand the limitations of lab grown cultures. Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and motor neurons were successfully differentiated using growth factors and then sorted using florescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Samples were taken from live mice for comparison to cultured cells. These cells were verified and primers were identified to aid in determining the relative expression of genes in vitro versus in vivo. Some of the qPCR results were unexpected, however, we were successful in isolating the desired cell types through FACS. Future studies will further examine the impact that in vitro differentiation has on the gene expression of the cells. Understanding this could lead to a better understanding of the differences of samples in vitro and in vivo.