Fish Bones

Scoliosis – a kinking deformity of the spine – affects a few percent of people, typically starting around puberty, and in some getting progressively worse. Researchers investigate the mechanisms behind scoliosis using zebrafish, who like us, develop a spine from a structure called the notochord. Notochord cells contain large fluid sacs called vacuoles, which are thought to provide a scaffold for spine formation. In this study, the team identified a mutation in a gene called dstyk in zebrafish that causes these vacuoles to fragment, resulting in spine defects similar to scoliosis, as shown by 3D micro-CT of mutant zebrafish skeletons (pictured). Live-imaging of developing mutant and normal zebrafish revealed that dstyk is needed for small sacs in notochord cells to fuse together to form the large vacuoles that support spine development. These insights bring us a step closer to understanding spine development.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Video from work by Jennifer Bagwell and colleagues

Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in eLife, January 2020

Tunicates come in a variety of forms and sizes, from small, colonizing sea squirts to the huge giant pyrosome. They can fix themselves to a variety of surfaces along the ocean floor or float along with the currents in the water column. Tunicates have gelatinous, tube-like outer coverings that protect their internal structures. Even though they don't look like much, these creatures are unique among invertebrates and are not classified as such because they have an internal notochord. Pictured above is a painted tunicate (Clavelina picta).

Hey folks! 

It's been great, and it's coming to an end... 2 classes left in our beginning belly dance series - and it's been an honor and a pleasure to watch you all get curious, confused, and then - empowered owning the movements of your bodies!!!

Last week we moved occilations through our spinal gateways - wholé molé!!!! -it's true!  Wow -- and this week, we're gonna get even more fluid - come be a part of it, and experience it for yourself!

Here's a little inspiration of where we come from - if you need it!

Reclaiming our Tails

-and-

Development of the vertebral column

In front of the neural tube there is a solid rod of cells, known as the notochord. Around the notochord the vertebral bodies develop. The fusiform cells of the sclerotome multiply rapidly and migrate to enclose the notochord in a mesenchymal sheath to form mesenchymjal vertebral column. In each segment bars of cartilage appear on either side of the notochord, which develop into vertebral bodies. --http://boneandspine.com/spine/spina-bifida/

It's geek out time with our bodies!  After all, this is the one we got - for right now... until technology makes the human form less necessary...  So, work it and own it and as always,

SHAKE what cho MAMA gave you!