Fruitfly Gut Stem Cells Similar to Human's
Filed in archive Stem Cells on December 13, 2005
In an article published online last week in Nature (abstract only, full-text available upon subscription), scientists from the Carnegie Institution's Department of Embryology have found that not only do adult fruitflies have stem cells lining their gut like humans do, but that
... like vertebrates, the stem cells are multipotent, which means that they can turn into different cell types, and that Notch signaling is as essential in flies in controlling how stem cells transform into different intestinal cells as it is in humans. Notch signaling was also found to instruct stem cells how to differentiate, a role that has as yet to be identified for Notch signaling in vertebrates.
Given this similarity, fruit flies may be instrumental as a model that will help in understanding human digestive disorders, including some cancers, and for developing therapeutics.
Source: Carnegie Insitution News Release
Permalink: Fruitfly Gut Stem Cells Similar to Human's
Tags: stemcells stem cells biotech stem+cells fruitfly+stem similar+human
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Response from:
cherry
(12/14/05 2:25am)
Oh, well...does this means that fruit flies will be an experimental object from now on, aside from rats?
Response from:
ruth
(12/14/05 7:25am)
Fruitflies, or Drosophila, have long been used as models for genetic research. Indeed, the most basic genetic principles of genetics and heredity were established with the help of the humble fruit fly. They are easy to mass-produce, and the generation time is short, so several generations can be studied without waiting for ages...
Also a favorite among geneticists is the worm, C. elegans.
Also a favorite among geneticists is the worm, C. elegans.
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