• 2133213391705910671067365553512512156095PublicAssets/6534
    Mosaicism in C. elegans (White Background)
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    Mosaicism in C. elegans (White Background)

    6534

    In the worm C. elegans, double-stranded RNA made in neurons can silence matching genes in a variety of cell types through the transport of RNA between cells. The head region of three worms that were genetically modified to express a fluorescent protein were imaged and the images were color-coded based on depth. The worm on the left lacks neuronal double-stranded RNA and thus every cell is fluorescent. In the middle worm, the expression of the fluorescent protein is silenced by neuronal double-stranded RNA and thus most cells are not fluorescent. The worm on the right lacks an enzyme that amplifies RNA for silencing. Surprisingly, the identities of the cells that depend on this enzyme for gene silencing are unpredictable. As a result, worms of identical genotype are nevertheless random mosaics for how the function of gene silencing is carried out. For more, see journal article and press release. Related to image 6532.
    Public Note
    Internal NoteHere is the caption from the news release: This image of three worms illustrates functional mosaicism in action. The worms have been genetically modified to express a fluorescent protein that appears as colorful glowing dots. The worm on the left shows fluorescence in every cell. In the middle worm, intestinal cells do not fluoresce because a protein that blocks the fluorescent gene has caused RNA interference (RNAi). In the worm on the right, scientists have removed the enzyme previously believed to be responsible for RNAi in intestinal cells, but fluorescence remains blocked in some of those cells, suggesting that RNAi is being carried out by another enzyme.
    Keywords
    SourceSnusha Ravikumar, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, and Antony M. Jose, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
    Date
    Credit LineSnusha Ravikumar, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, and Antony M. Jose, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
    Investigator
    Record TypePhotograph
    Topic Area(s);#Cells;#Genes;#
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    StatusActive

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