Ex Vivo Live Imaging of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in D. melanogaster

This project aims to investigate asymmetric cell division (ACD) in blood cell development using live imaging and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as a model system. Hematopoiesis, the process of blood cell formation, relies on tightly regulated mechanisms to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Disruptions in this balance can cause blood disorders such as leukemia. ACD, where a stem cell divides to produce one self-renewing and one differentiating daughter cell, is a key mechanism for maintaining this balance, but its role in mammalian hematopoiesis remains poorly understood due to technical challenges in live imaging. This project will combine advanced live imaging techniques with genetic tools for tracking ACD-associated proteins in the Drosophila lymph gland, a hematopoietic organ. By visualizing how cell polarity proteins like Par-6 dynamically influence ACD and blood cell fate in real-time, the study aims to provide insights into how environmental signals regulate blood cell development and identify potential therapeutic targets for blood disorders.

Faculty Supervisor:

Guy Tanentzapf

Student:

Partner:

Stanford University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: