Name: Dr. Sebastian Memczak
Hometown: Criewen, Germany
Lab: Gene Expression Laboratory under the direction of Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
Lab websites: https://belmonte.salk.edu/
Hobbies: running, surfing
What do you study? I study how cell identity and cell state is formed and how we might be able to reprogram both. In particular, I’m interested in how different levels of gene regulation can be modified to design cells with features like enhanced regeneration, healthy metabolism, or other properties of young cells.
Why is it important? Aging is the biggest risk factor for many human diseases. In the lab, we are currently trying to reset aging clocks at the cellular level. The goal is to achieve, to some degree, rejuvenation of different tissues by controlled and specific molecular intervention. Ultimately, we want to convince cells in living beings, including humans, to return to younger states.
How did you become interested in science? My biology teacher and the sequencing of the human genome which at the time, was a fantastic breakthrough.
What do you like about being a scientist? The relative freedom to do what you are interested in, the breakneck speed of progress, the interesting and oftentimes crazy people you meet, and the remote possibility that when discovering something, for a short amount of time you can be the only human that knows about it.
What are 5 general vocabulary terms someone should know going into your field of science?
genome, epigenome, transcriptome, cell identity, cell differentiation
What are 5 specific vocabulary terms someone should know about your research?
pluripotency, transcription factors, gene expression, RNA sequencing and artificial intelligence
Teaser: Take a look at this cool example that illustrates how each cell knows exactly what to do and where to go during early development, here of a Salamander: