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Achievements in the CSUS Stem Cell Program, 2025
About Our Stem Cell Graduate Research
Master's students in our Stem Cell Program perform cutting edge translational research in the field of regenerative medicine. The intention of this site is to provide a platform for our graduate students to describe their research to the greater community. In some cases, students chose instead to write editorials aimed at providing a general understanding of stem cell research. In all cases, students attempted to describe research in a way that would be consumable and informative — and possibly even entertaining —to all readers.
To protect the confidentiality of unpublished research currently underway at UC Davis, the specific names of genes, proteins, cells, and tissue types have often been replaced with aliases or referred to generically (e.g., "factor X" or "a specific peptide"), unless the information is already publicly available elsewhere.
If you have questions or comments, please contact the site editor: Dr. Kimberly Mulligan.
What makes You, You: A Stem Cell Journey into Cri Du Chat Syndrome
Breann Benitez
From the shape of your nose to the sound of our voice, the answer lies deep within your chromosomes. Almost every cell in your body contains 46 chromosomes, arranged in a in 23 pairs. You inherit half from your mother and half from your father. The first 22 pairs are called autosomes, and the 23rd pair determines your biological sex. Together, these chromosomes carry the genetic instructions that influence everything about you—from your complexion and hair texture to your overall physique.But what happens if one of these chromosomes is missing, duplicated or altered? That’s called a chromosomal abnormality. These abnormalities are typically grouped into two main categories: numerical and structural.
Plurrripotent Stem Cells for Cats? Advances in Feline Regenerative Med
Melanie Dibbell
In a groundbreaking leap for feline regenerative medicine, researchers have successfully created embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines for cats; a first for veterinary medicine that could revolutionize how we treat chronic feline diseases. To understand why this is such a big deal, we first need to discuss what it means to be a stem cell, how ESCs differ from other commonly used stem cell types like iPSCs, and MSCs, and the limitations of current feline regenerative medicine. Only then can you truly appreciate just how game-changing the creation of feline ESC lines really is.
Why is Science Making Albino Opossums?
Stephen Gergeni
Genetically modified or transgenic animals, are those whose DNA has been manipulated through genetic engineering, often involving the insertion of a gene from another species, for purposes like research, disease modeling, or enhancing desirable traits.Many common animal species have been genetically engineered, including livestock animals and laboratory staples like mice and rabbits and even fish. A famous example of genetic engineering is the creation of glow-in-the-dark mice. Researchers inserted a gene from jellyfish that produces green fluorescent protein, or a gene from fireflies that creates the luciferase enzyme, into the mouse’s DNA. This causes some of the mice’s cells to glow under UV light.
The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own (Literally)
Ameera Khan
Have you ever wondered how the heart continues to beat, even when the brain goes quiet? Or why it races when you’re anxious? We feel heartbreak in our chest, butterflies before a big moment, and warmth when experiencing love. It’s as if the heart somehow knows what’s happening–sometimes even before our brain finally catches up! The heart is more than just a hardworking muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. Exciting research shows that the heart actually has its own complex nervous system—a “little brain” —that controls heart function and possibly the way we feel and process our emotions.1 This nervous system, in scientific terms, is known as the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (IcNS). The IcNS is made up of about 40,000 neurons (also called sensory neurites) embedded in the heart’s tissues. These neurons can learn, feel, sense, and remember, and are supported by many other types of cells (i.e. glial cells) that regulate how often the heart beats, responds to stress, and interacts with the brain.
Sickle Cell Disease: Gene Therapy, Accessibility, and the Road Ahead
Lynzie Manson
Ever heard of sickle cell disease? Also referred to as “SCD”, this is a tough inherited disease that affects the blood caused by a tiny mistake in our body's instructions. SCD can have a large impact on the quality of life of the individuals who suffer from the disease. Symptoms of SCD include severe vaso-occlusion events (i.e. blood vessel blockages), chronic anemia, organ damage, stroke, and an overall reduced lifespan. People with SCD have impaired hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. The mutant SCD form of hemoglobin is called hemoglobin S (HbS). In SCD, when oxygen is low, molecules of HbS stick together, or polymerize, and produce firm fibers.
A-Muse-ing Cells
Banoo Rafiqzada
It starts with a banana. Not the whole thing—just the peel. But that’s enough to send you crashing to the ground. You might end up with a few bruises, a sore wrist, or a twisted ankle. Still, your body can handle it. With a bit of time, the swelling goes down, the pain fades, and your cells quietly get to work repairing the damage. But what if they didn’t? Not all injuries are as simple as banana peel falls. Traumas like spinal cord injuries, heart attacks, and strokes plunge your cells into a hostile environment. Cut off from blood flow and starved of oxygen levels, it becomes a place no cell wants to be. Under overwhelming stress, they begin to shut down and die. And just like that, the body’s ability to heal becomes far more complex.
Unlocking the Secrets of Skeletal Stem Cells
Alexis Thornburgh
Understanding skeletal stem cells (SSCs) is crucial for advancing bone health research and developing targeted therapies. Bone-related diseases are very common in the United States, affecting approximately 1.5 million people annually and significantly diminishing quality of life. To effectively treat bone-related diseases, it is important to consider that not all bones in the human body are the same—different bone types exhibit unique characteristics, which are shaped during development by distinct SSC populations.
Accomplishments Archive
Read articles written by prior graduate students.