Fat is a Drosophila tumour suppressor gene that regulates the growth of cells in tissues. The McNeill lab are trying to understand how Fat restricts growth and controls Hippo pathway activity. This is being tested using flies and mice. They are also investigating how Fat regulates growth via control of metabolism and mitochondrial function. The McNeill lab is hoping to find how Fat regulates the growth rate and full grown size of organs.
Fat also controls a high-level form of tissue patterning, called planar polarity. The McNeill lab is trying to understand the signal transduction pathway by which this large adhesion molecule regulates tissue organization. They also want to understand if the control of growth and patterning by Fat are linked. They have conducted molecular and genetic screens for elements of the Fat pathway in Drosophila, and are currently dissection the biochemical pathway of Fat signalling. In addition, They have recently identified a human homolog of Fat, and are exploring if Fat regulates proliferation and planar polarity in mammals. The McNeill lab is hoping to find if and how the human homolog of Fat regulates the growth rate and full grown size of our organs. …show more content…
She was trying to find out how hydras; a freshwater polyp that have amazing regenerative abilities, and a simple body plan, react to the influence of the Fat and Dachsous members, and whether it affects their regenerative abilities. For the first few weeks, I was mainly learning about hydras, their regenerative abilities, and helping clean their containers. I also got to cut them and see that they had regenerated by the next time I
Fat also controls a high-level form of tissue patterning, called planar polarity. The McNeill lab is trying to understand the signal transduction pathway by which this large adhesion molecule regulates tissue organization. They also want to understand if the control of growth and patterning by Fat are linked. They have conducted molecular and genetic screens for elements of the Fat pathway in Drosophila, and are currently dissection the biochemical pathway of Fat signalling. In addition, They have recently identified a human homolog of Fat, and are exploring if Fat regulates proliferation and planar polarity in mammals. The McNeill lab is hoping to find if and how the human homolog of Fat regulates the growth rate and full grown size of our organs. …show more content…
She was trying to find out how hydras; a freshwater polyp that have amazing regenerative abilities, and a simple body plan, react to the influence of the Fat and Dachsous members, and whether it affects their regenerative abilities. For the first few weeks, I was mainly learning about hydras, their regenerative abilities, and helping clean their containers. I also got to cut them and see that they had regenerated by the next time I