Lab 1: Only the Nose Glows (The reality)

I’m back home for Christmas and all done with my first rotation. I’m going to start writing it all up tomorrow, 7000 words in 4 weeks. So it seemed like a good time to write a post about what I’ve actually been doing over the last 9 weeks.

I’ve been trying to find out what makes olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) from neural crest stem cells (NCCs). This means I’ve been looking at which genes are active in these cells at different points in development. The information from an active gene is converted into a messenger molecule (mRNA) and this information is then used to construct a protein, which has a specific role within a cell. mRNA and proteins can be coloured using specific markers.

Lab 1: Only the Nose Knows

Hey

This is the idea that started it all. Telling you all about the different research that I get to do as a PhD student. This post is all about the first lab I'm working in, I started here in early October and have just over a week left until I leave. It's been really a lot of fun, although it did take me a few weeks to really get back into doing work after a very long summer vacation. But the personal stuff can come later. I want to start with the overview. This is the explanation of why I'm doing the project, the stuff I tell people who ask about my work.


(Ed. If anyone's interested, the lab I'm in just released the paper which preceded my project showing that olfactory ensheathing cells are from the neural crest. We also made it into New Scientist.)



Cells from the nose that COULD cure stroke or paralysis! Crazy, right? That’s what I thought too, but it does seem to be true. Cells which guide nerves from the nose into the brain, when transplanted to damaged regions of the spine, help the nerves there to grow through the scar tissue and reconnect with the proper targets.