Research Symposium

BIO

Hello! My name is Kathryn Woodford and I am a sophomore at FSU. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry, while on the Pre-Dental track. I grew up in South Florida, and I love spending time outdoors. Some hobbies of mine include drawing, painting, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Negative Cell Cycle Regulators in Pancreatic Beta Cells

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects ~442 million people worldwide. There are two forms of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes typically appears in adolescence and takes place when the body destroys beta cells, secreting insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs in older, and typically obese, individuals when the body does not produce enough insulin and react in the way it should. A common pathological feature between both of these types of diabetes is a lack of functional, insulin producing beta cells. Due to lack of insulin, diabetic patients need to inject insulin to help in glucose homeostasis. Without it, blood sugar levels can become dangerously high.
 
In order to help those suffering from diabetes, my research project is exploring negative cell cycle regulators in beta cells. When more beta cells are proliferated by inhibiting negative cell cycle regulators, more insulin is being produced thus helping regulate blood sugar levels.
 
To test this, we are exploring 27 candidate genes related to cell cycle arrest. Through a series of tests, we hope to narrow this group down to discover the 3 genes that reduce beta cell proliferation the most.
 
This information can be useful to those suffering from diabetes because it can be used by pharmaceutical companies to manufacture a drug which would help increase levels of beta cell proliferation. Then, diabetic patients who took this drug would be able to produce more insulin to regulate glucose homeostasis.

Keywords: Diabetes Biomedicine Plasmid Cell Cas9