In this talk, Dr. Shendure will describe our ongoing efforts to develop and apply new technologies aimed at reconstructing the entirety of mouse embryonic development at single cell resolution. A first approach that he is pursuing involves single cell profiling of whole embryos at successive timepoints, resulting in “snapshots” that must be pieced together analogous to a timelapse movie. A complementary approach that Dr. Shendure is also pursuing involves time-resolved molecular recording, essentially leveraging DNA as a substrate to write information that informs the reconstruction of cell lineage and other molecular events as they transpired over the course of a single embryo's development. Under these two strategies, Dr. Shendure will discuss progress and challenges towards the long-term dream of comprehensively modeling the entirety of mouse prenatal development, from a single cell zygote to a free-living pup. Register here.

Wrap up the 2023-2024 Discovery Series season with a presentation from Dr. Brandon Hopkins.

Honey bees are critical to producing around 70% of foods consumed worldwide, but colony losses in recent decades have beekeepers and farmers concerned for their crops. Beekeeping is an age-old practice that has greatly lagged behind other agricultural industries. However, our team is taking advantage of new technologies and easier access to tools to improve honey bee health, reduce the pressure of pesticides, and uncover the causes of colony losses each year. Washington State University’s Dr. Brandon Hopkins will provide a brief overview of some of the technological advances his group has made, and existing technologies they are using in innovative ways, to support beekeepers, offer insight to the causes of colony losses, and to generate new information that is directing policy changes nationwide. Register here.