Developmental Biology study describes how Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs

Stem cells self-organize to form a hollow ball of cells. (Image by In Kyoung Mah and Francesca Mariani) channels=3 mode=color unit=um spacing=1.0E-13 loop=false — Stem cells self-organize to form a hollow ball of cells. (Image by In Kyoung Mah and Francesca Mariani)

A gene called Prkci can point cells in the right direction, according to a new study in Developmental Biology.

In the study, USC Stem Cell researcher In Kyoung Mah from the laboratory of Francesca Mariani and colleagues demonstrated Prkci’s role in organizing cells into balls and tubes during early embryo and organ formation.