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Understanding the Balbiani Body: A super-organelle linked to dormancy in oocytes

19 Ene 18

Speaker: Dra. Elvan Boke, Group Leader Center for Genomic Regulation - CRG (Barcelona, Spain)

 

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Presentation

Organizers: IRB Barcelona

Date: Friday, January 19h, 12.00h

Place: Serratosa Room, Parc Científic de Barcelona

Host: Dr. Antonio Zorzano (IRB Barcelona)

Abstract

Female germ cells, oocytes, are highly specialised cells. They ensure the continuity of species by providing the female genome and mitochondria along with most of the nutrients and housekeeping machinery the early embryo needs after fertilisation. Oocytes are remarkable in their ability to survive for long periods of time, up to 50 years in humans, and retain the ability to give rise to a young organism while other cells age and die. Surprisingly little is known about oocyte dormancy. A key feature of dormant oocytes of virtually all vertebrates is the presence of a Balbiani body, which is a non-membrane bound compartment that contains most of the organelles in dormant oocytes and disappears as the oocyte matures.

Plenary Seminar