Abstracts - Society for Developmental Biology

21
We are interested in the role of chromatin structure regulation during early mouse development, a topic about which little
is known. We have previously shown that the chromatin remodeler Chd1 regulates the decondensed chromatin state of
mouse Embryonic Stem (ES) cells in vitro (Gaspar-Maia et al, Nature 2009). To determine the role of Chd1 in vivo, we
recently generated Chd1 mutant mice. Chd1-/- embryos arrest around E5.5-6.0, prior to gastrulation. Mutant embryos
induce but fail to maintain the pluripotent epiblast and the extraembryonic ectoderm, and do not establish the anteriorposterior
axis. This phenotype appears to be due to apoptosis specifically of the epiblast. To gain insight into the
mechanism of action of Chd1, we have preliminarily uncovered evidence for a remarkable level of physiological (uninduced)
DNA repair in the mouse epiblast. We found that foci of gammaH2AX, a marker and regulator of DNA break
repair, are detected at high levels in control 5.5-6.5 mouse embryos specifically in the epiblast, and these foci are absent in
Chd1 mutants. We are testing the hypothesis that Chd1 is required for chromatin decondensation events that are essential
for DNA repair in the mouse epiblast. We will discuss the potential implications of these findings, including recent
evidence suggestive of a role for Chd1 in different types of cancer. We have also generated a conditional (floxed) allele of
Chd1 and are using it to delete Chd1 in specific developmental contexts. Serendipitously, we found a surprising and
essential role for Chd1 in the fetal component of the mid-gestation mouse placenta, and are dissecting this role further. Our
most recent findings will be presented.
Program/Abstract # 64
Educational Activities of the Society for Developmental Biology
SDB Professional Development and Education Committee, Bethesda, United States
Volunteer. Engage. Learn. Share. Educate. Participate with the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB). The
primary mission of SDB is to advance understanding of developmental biology at all levels. SDB provides many
opportunities for its membership to engage in a variety of educational endeavors. Since 2006, the Professional
Development and Education Committee (PDEC) has organized Boot Camps for new faculty and advanced postdocs to
improve their leadership skills and learn about teaching, mentoring and lab management. In 2009, the first Re-boot Camp
was offered for mid-career faculty to reinvigorate their teaching approaches and to discover strategies for shifting their
career focus. SDB has co-organized short courses with the Latin American Society for Developmental Biology since 2005
for advanced graduate students, postdocs and junior faculty. These courses have fostered both scientific and cultural
exchanges, as well as research collaborations. SDB Collaborative Resources (CoRe), an online collection of visuals for
learning and teaching developmental biology, is an opportunity for all developmental biologists to contribute to greater
understanding of their specialties. Course instructors can also submit developmental biology teaching resources at all
levels to the APS/SDB Partner Archive (formerly LEADER). SDB volunteers engage the public through outreach
activities including the USA Science & Engineering Festival, educational workshops at regional meetings, and public talks
on development. Come by the SDB poster and booth to learn how you can contribute, volunteer and be part of an energetic
team to promote developmental biology.
Program/Abstract # 65
Exploring Developmental Biology in the Kindergarten and First Grade Classroom
Glickman Holtzman, Nathalia, Queens College, CUNY Biology; The Graduate Center, CUNY, Flushing, United States;
Miller, Vanessa; Wilson, Christopher (Central Park East II (P.S. M964), New York, United States)
The value of using developmental biology as a teaching tool for fostering scientific inquiry, teaching general biological
concepts and developing observation and documentation skills is clear for students of all ages. We have developed a
program that brings these concepts into the classrooms of young children in an age appropriate yet scientifically robust
manner. Within this 2 year curriculum students gain an understanding of animal Classifications and Life-Cycles (CaLC).
One of the key learning goals in elementary education is the concept of sorting and object classification. For example, a
typical task might be: sort the buttons by color or/and by the number of button holes. Students in the CaLC curriculum
learn to sort living things, first into their kingdom, then into vertebrates and invertebrates and finally into their key classes
(mammal, fish, reptile, amphibian or insect, arachnid, crustacean). The CaLC curriculum also includes 4 additional
developmental biology modules (two vertebrate and two invertebrate).With support from the school and SDB, three of the
four modules have been initiated this semester. Ms.Miller’s kindergarten class has explored the development of chick and
frogs while Mr. Wilson has carried out an invertebrate study with his 1st grade class. These studies are designed to meet
the many of the Science and Math Core Curriculum content and skills. We will present a summary of the program as well
as assessments of meeting our learning objectives.