July 25, 2021
Finding Fulfillment in a Fine Lecture with Prof Kenneth Yip
Prof Kenneth Yip learned early in his career that he really enjoys teaching from giving classes as a post-doctoral researcher. “I love to see that students are excited about science and I enjoy hearing questions that show they understand the material and are eager to learn more. My favourite…
June 29, 2021
Synthetic biology circuit from Chang lab may lead to IBD treatment
A new probiotic yeast, engineered at the University of Toronto and extensively tested at Bringham & Women’s Hospital (BWH) was designed using synthetic biology to sense and respond to inflammation, and has been shown to reduce IBD in mice. Inflammation can be a healthy response to infection…
June 25, 2021
Developing Excellent Science Brings Dr Ritu Sarpal a Faculty Appointment
Developmental Biologist Dr Ritu Sarpal’s dedication to teaching and training has earned her a position as Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in Cell & Systems Biology, starting July 1, 2021. Her experience in designing lab courses and mentoring students will be a valuable addition to our…
May 20, 2021
Tiptoeing around in the frog embryo
Dr Martina Nagel recently found the answer to a puzzle that she has been pursuing for 30 years in the laboratory of Prof Rudolf Winklbauer. She determined how the sheets of tissue that become the adult frog can migrate past each other while staying mostly separate as the embryo grows and develops…
April 30, 2021
Cannabis’ Hermaphrodite Conundrum
Guest post by Hayley McKay The commercial cannabis industry is facing a looming problem: it doesn’t have the ability to cultivate cannabis efficiently. Sure, growers have tried to co-opt basement grow-op techniques for large scale production, but fundamental plant science is still missing. Not…
April 21, 2021
Transcriptional enhancers don’t require ‘master regulators’
A common assumption in studying gene transcription is that there are 'master regulators' that are required for gene regulation. Gurdeep Singh from Professor Jennifer Mitchell’s laboratory challenges this view in the latest Genome Research by showing that gene transcription can be precisely…
March 2, 2021
Hone-Buske Award winner Julia Gauberg identifies presynaptic channel homologues in ancient animal
The Christine Hone-Buske award is given each year to a CSB graduate student who has produced an outstanding paper in their field. This year, the award went to PhD candidate Julia Gauberg for her publication “Conserved biophysical features of the CaV2 presynaptic Ca2+ channel homologue from the…
February 26, 2021
Resurrected proteins reveal evolutionary history of Amazon River fish
As the Andes mountains were rising 15-20 million years ago, the freshwater Amazon basin became flooded with seawater. This event provided an opportunity to adapt to a freshwater habitat for marine species carried along with the seawater. University of Toronto Professors Belinda Chang and Nathan…
January 14, 2021
Collaboration is key at CSB’s aquatic research facility
Amanda Miles’ PhD studies in Prof Vince Tropepe’s lab focus on the development, maintenance, and degeneration of the retina. “The eye is extremely complex; if you stop and think about how your eye develops properly and what allows you to see the vast wonders surrounding you- it’s incredible!…
January 6, 2021
CSB Year in Review: Top Stories of 2020
As the year comes to a close, we look back on the achievements of students, staff, and faculty in the Cell and Systems Biology Department. Here are some of the top CSB stories of 2020. Research discoveries in CSB In 2020, researchers in the Cells and Systems Biology Department made strides with…