Research Symposium

BIO

Hanna Crouse is a sophomore at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Family Life Sciences, with a minor in Chemistry. Hanna is involved in undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, where she works in a developmental biology lab under the mentorship of Dr. Liyun Miao. Her research focuses on early cellular development and the mechanisms that contribute to disease formation. Beyond the laboratory, Hanna is actively engaged in campus leadership and service, including founding Florida State University’s Women’s Club Basketball team and participating in pre-health and community service organizations. She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician, with the goal of serving underserved populations and improving care for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Functional Analysis of ZGC:162509 in Zebrafish Embryonic Development

Abstract

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that control early embryonic development and cellular reprogramming is important for advancing developmental biology and regenerative medicine. The poorly characterized gene ZGC:162509 may function as part of the maternal regulatory program that controls early zebrafish embryogenesis. This project investigates the effects of overexpression and knockout of ZGC:162509 in zebrafish embryos and examines the gene product's molecular function and cellular localization. Identifying previously unrecognized maternal regulators such as ZGC:162509 may improve our understanding of early developmental programs and help reveal missing components required for efficient cellular reprogramming. These results are preliminary, and ongoing experiments aim to clarify the biological role of ZGC:162509 further.

Keywords: Genetics, Development, Molecule