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A marine model for stem cell research and evolution of the immune system

The Colonial Tunicate Botryllus schlosseri

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The Voskoboynik Lab studies how stem cells and immune cells co-evolve to mediate development, organogenesis, aging, and self non-self recognition, using the colonial marine species Botryllus schlosseri.

Featured Publications

Human’s closest marine invertebrate relative gives insight into the evolution of neurodegenerative disorders

Read the article on this paper at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine website.

Sexual and asexual development: Two distinct programs producing the same tunicate

Read the article on this paper at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine website.

John Steinbeck on Botryllus schlosseri colonies:

Yellow Cover of Steinbeck's Sea of Cortez with ocean and cliff

"Each member of the colony is an individual animal, but the colony is another individual animal, not at all like the sum of its individuals. Here are two animals, yet the same thing. Which is the animal, the colony or the individual? . . . Why it's two animals and they aren't alike any more than the cells of my body are like me."
—The Log from the Sea of Cortez