Abstract
Presentation Description :
The retina is an accessible system for identifying the molecular mechanisms that control CNS cell fate specification, and is a prime target for regenerative therapies aimed at restoring photoreceptors lost to blinding diseases. I will discuss our recent large-scale single-cell RNA-Seq analysis of multiple vertebrate species that is aimed at identifying gene regulatory networks that drive the acquisition of neuronal and glial identity in the developing retina. I will discuss our identification of transcription factors that control both temporal identity and proliferative quiescence, new tools we and our collaborators have developed to identify core evolutionarily-conserved gene regulatory networks controlling retinal development, and mechanisms controlling injury-induced neurogenic competence in retinal glia.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.