Comparative Biology: Animal Models Strut Their Stuff
Scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory use the comparative model approach to understand the basic biology of tissue regeneration and aging. Thanks to evolution and common ancestry, we humans actually share a large portion of our DNA with fish, worms, and salamanders. Humans and zebrafish, for example, share 70% of the same genes; 84% of human genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish equivalent. That’s a lot of similarity.
Continue ReadingSharing MDIBL Career to Inspire Young Scientists
Recently our Animal Facility Manager, Karlee Markovich, was invited to take part in Maine Bioscience Day, a statewide event that aims to get middle school students excited about science by introducing them to different career paths and opportunities that are available in the life sciences industry in Maine.
Continue ReadingVisiting Scientist Gert Fricker, Ph.D.: Taking Some Lessons in Toughness from a Hardy Local Fish
This is the first in a series of posts describing how collaborations between MDI Biological Laboratory faculty members and visiting scientists are advancing scientific progress.
Continue ReadingAttracting Students from Around the Globe
Course offers extensive laboratory training The MDI Biological Laboratory’s Applications of Organoid Technology course, held in May for the second consecutive year, is the only course in the world offering extensive laboratory training in making organoids. “Our course is called ‘Applications of Organoid Technology’ for a reason,” said course director Hugo de Jonge, Ph.D., a...
Continue ReadingGetting Middle Schoolers Excited About Science
In this post, MDI Biological Laboratory animal core technician Karlee Markovich talks about her experience inspiring interest in science among students at a Bangor middle school as part of Maine BioScience Day.
Continue ReadingDream of Regenerating Human Body Parts Gets a Little Closer
Science is getting closer to achieving the dream of being able to restore damage to vital organs, the spinal cord and limbs. MDI Biological Laboratory scientist James Godwin, Ph.D., discusses this progress in an article originally published in “The Conversation,” a news outlet for the academic and research community based in Australia, where Godwin was formerly a research fellow at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI).
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