Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Guang-Quan Zhao
Department: Pharmacology
Room number: Y6.214
Mail Code: 9041
Phone number: 214 648 8753
E-mail: guang.zhao@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Making germ cells from embryonic stem cells

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0914-03-04-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Animal-based research

Brief Description of Project:

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent stem cells that are able give rise to all cell types of our body (including primordial germ cells or PGCs) upon receiving proper instruction or signals. Our goals are to identify and study the signals that instruct ES cells to become PGCs. We are also interested in further differentiating PGCs into sperm and eggs that can potentially be used for fertility treatment. As a long-term goal, in vitro matured human eggs can be used as an unlimited source of recipient oocytes for therapeutic cloning to create a bank of ES cells for all individuals.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Usman Barba did research in our laboratory during the Summer of 2001. He investigated the possibility of reprogramming embryonic fibroblasts by over-expression of Oct4 and BMP receptor genes. Although he only obtained negative results, he did learn a lot of molecular biology and cell culture techniques.

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