Role of chromatin structure in the regulation of stem cell function

这个项目的目的是更多地了解干细胞的性质。干细胞是一种具有无限增殖能力的细胞，同时保持分化成一种或多种细胞类型的能力。低等动物，如两栖动物，具有比人类更大的身体器官再生能力。例如，如果蝾螈的一个肢体受伤，它可以再生出整个肢体。这是因为他们在肢体中保留了未分化的干细胞，这些干细胞在受伤时可以被重新激活。有趣的是，成年人的大脑中含有少量的干细胞。这个项目的目的是找出更多关于这些细胞是如何保持未分化的，以及是什么让它们形成不同的细胞类型。如果对这些细胞有更多的了解，也许将来就有可能刺激它们来修复神经系统受损的部分。它也有可能治疗患有阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病或脊髓损伤等疾病的人。

The aim of this project is to understand more about the nature of stem cells. Stem cells are cells which have the capacity to proliferate indefinitely but, at the same time, retain the capacity to differentiate into one or more cell types. Lower animals, such as amphibians, have a much greater capacity than humans to regenerate body parts. For example, axolotls can regenerate an entire limb if one limb is injured. This is because they retain undifferentiated stem cells in their limbs which can be reactivated in the event of injury. Interestingly the adult human brain contains a small population of stem cells. The aim of this project is to find out more about how these cells remain undifferentiated and what is it about them which allows them to form different cell types. If more is known about these cells maybe in the future it will be possible to stimulate them to repair damaged parts of the nervous system. It may also be possible to treat people suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or spinal injuries.