Jake Stercula

Jake Stercula

Mar 28, 2016

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Look at those beautiful cells!

This picture highlights the first time I managed to grow primary lizard brain cells in culture directly from a lizard brain! The picture on the computer shows astrocytes- the nurturing brain cells for neurons. In fact, these are the cells we are trying to isolate because they produce all of the lipid for the brain. If you look closely, you can see the bright, glowing material inside of the cells. These are the lipids!


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About This Project

An animal's ability to adapt to short- and long-term changes in temperature is crucial for its survival. Lizards are ectotherms that rely on their environment to regulate body temperature, so they experience a wide range of temperatures. We don't yet know how lizard cells remain viable across extreme temperatures, especially within the brain. We are studying the regulation of brain lipids (i.e., fats) in biological membranes to understand how lizards adapt to and live in extreme environments.

More Lab Notes From This Project

Blast off!

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