Spatial phenomena in xenopus cell-free extracts
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Not only do biological systems consist of an extraordinarily complex cast of molecules, these molecules are well-organized in space: first into compartments, which form cells, which act in concert as tissues, which finally make up organisms. This thesis focuses on specific examples of how complicated biological systems create and maintain their intricate spatial organization. The tools of mathematical modeling have greatly assisted scientists' understanding of spatial patterning. In particular, models can help to distill a complicated phenomenon into its core logic. Chapter 1 is an overview of two types of spatial phenomena, Turing patterns and trigger waves, in which a relatively simple mathematical model is able to capture the most salient characteristics of the spatial pattern. Chapter 2 details how trigger waves of mitotic activity help to spatially coordinate the events of mitosis across the relatively large Xenopus laevis egg. We present a simple mathematical model that shows the plausibility of such waves, as well as a detailed experimental study on the existence and dynamics of such waves in Xenopus eggs and extracts. In Chapter 3, I discuss methods that greatly enhance the ability to visualize Xenopus extract using fluorescence microscopy. Traditional methods are only able to visualize a fixed cell cycle state or a single transition from one state to another. The method presented takes advantage of the fact that Xenopus extracts execute many more cell cycles on Teflon versus other materials such as glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Using a Teflon-coated glass coverslip, we were able to achieve high-resolution imaging using spinning disk confocal microscopy on extracts that can execute multiple (about six at a minimum) cell cycles.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2013 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Chang, Jeremy B |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology. |
| Primary advisor | Ferrell, James Ellsworth |
| Thesis advisor | Ferrell, James Ellsworth |
| Thesis advisor | Huang, Kerwyn Casey, 1979- |
| Thesis advisor | Meyer, Tobias |
| Thesis advisor | Skotheim, Jan, 1977- |
| Advisor | Huang, Kerwyn Casey, 1979- |
| Advisor | Meyer, Tobias |
| Advisor | Skotheim, Jan, 1977- |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Jeremy B. Chang. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Chemical and Systems Biology. |
| Thesis | Ph.D. Stanford University 2013 |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2013 by Jeremy Bonyuan Chang
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