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Development and Morphogenesis in Drosophila News

Scientific
Key mechanism in embryonic development revealed: pivotal role of DNA copy number
Scientific
Chinmo, “the youth gene”
Scientific
The disassembly of organs during metamorphosis is a precise process orchestrated by hormones
Tracheal cells of Drosophila larvae, destined to form the adult tissue structures (Giannios, IRB Barcelona)
Scientific
A known tumour suppressor gene is also essential for hormone-controlled development, tissue regeneration and stress-response
Scientific
Unravelling the distinct contribution of cell shape changes and cell intercalation to tissue morphogenesis
Different localization of the proteins involved in apoptosis in basal (Ctrl) and upon death receptor induction with TRAIL. Saška Ivanova, IRB Barcelona
Scientific
Researchers identify a new biomarker for personalised treatments against cancer
Jordi Casanova, head of the Development and Morphogenesis in Drosophila Lab at IRB Barcelona
Institutional
"Biology, a science of greys"
The overexpression of the gene Serpent in the Drosophila wing causes permanent overgrowth and it is sufficient to promote tumour development (Image: Kyra Campbell, IRB Barcelona)
Media mentions
Genes activated in metastasis also drive the first stages of tumour growth
The overexpression of the gene Serpent in the Drosophila wing causes permanent overgrowth and it is sufficient to promote tumour development. Image: Kyra Campbell, IRB Barcelona
Innovation
Genes activated in metastasis also drive the first stages of tumour growth
In August, IRB Barcelona scientists published two studies devoted to circadian rhythm, aging and diet in the journal Cell.
Media mentions
Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for insights into internal biological clock
Teachers and scientists working together.
Outreach
Secondary school teachers and IRB Barcelona scientists are on to “the fly”
Media mentions
Cadherins are crucial for cell migration
Institutional
Developmental biology offers the key to finding solutions for paediatric cancer, metastasis, and regeneration
Highly ramificated tracheal cell of a Drosophila larvae marked with GFP. (Delia Ricolo)
Scientific
Research into fly development provides insights into blood vessel formation
Organisation of the tracheal systems in Drosophila (A) and Tribolium (B)
Scientific
Gene regulation, evolution and the exploitation of new habitats
Media mentions
Fighting diabetes with stem cells could be possible
Media mentions
Researchers discover how specialised cells become stem cells again
Drosophila trachea fragment. Externally, there is no difference between the Tr2 segment, where facultative stem cells are found, and Tr3, which indicates the rest of the cells in the tissue. (N.J. Djabrayan, IRBBarcelona)
Scientific
Researchers dig up new molecular details on "the other type" of stem cells
Media mentions
"Flies have a pedigree. They have allowed scientists to win 7 Nobel Prizes"
Media mentions
“Top model” flies
Image of the larval tracheal main tube, stained in white to mark the chitinous ECM and in red to mark the cell-cell junctions
Scientific
Identification of a mechanism by which cells interact with their milieu
Media mentions
A cell binding protein that participates in cell movement
In a developing Drosophila embryo, (above) E-Cadherin keep cells together to facilitate coordinated migration; (below) without E-Cad cells are disorganised. (J Casanova lab)
Scientific
The protein that keeps cells static is found to play a key role in cell movement
Image of the last "On the fly" programme (2012)
Outreach
The fifth edition of the course for secondary school teachers starts at IRB Barcelona
Media mentions
Discovery of nanomolecular scale proteins and reconstruction of tissues in 3D—the most recent advances in microscopy
(from right to left): Julien Colombelli (IRB Barcelona), Rafael Yuste (Columbia University) and Timo Zimmermann (CRG) during the press conference at ELMI
Institutional
Microscopy moves towards “nanoscopy” and transforms the life sciences
Media mentions
Discovery of the mechanism that reactivates cells as stem cells
Fruit fly larva are used to study stem cells key features (Image: wikipedia)
Scientific
A mechanism that allows a differentiated cell to reactivate as a stem cell revealed
Media mentions
Research into human colon cancer conducted in flies
In green, details of a tumour surrounded by the muscle fibres (red) of the Drosophila (O Martorell, IRB Barcelona)
Scientific
Flies with colon cancer help to unravel the genetic keys to disease in humans