Enda O'Connell 2013 Competition

STEM CELLS: A Stem Cell Story

Stem cells are very special, unspecialised cells that can become, and replace, any type of cell in our body. We need stem cells to replenish the millions of blood, skin and other types of cells that die every day.

Medically, surgeons use layers of skin derived from stem cells to treat extensively burned tissue, while stem cells can be differentiated into heart, brain and other tissue types for potential new therapies. In the lab, stem cells are also used to test new drugs and give insights into complex conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons’s and diabetes.

This beautifully produced short film by EuroStemCell gives an introduction into the life of stem cells inside and outside our body.

Enda O'Connell 2013 Competition

ASTROBIOLOGY: Was there Life on Mars?

Enda O'Connell 2013 Competition

Meet our friends at Cell EXPLORERS

cell explorers logo

Cell EXPLORERS is the NUI Galway School of Natural Sciences’ hands-on programme of discovery of molecular and cellular biology, promoting biological and biomedical sciences to the general public. The programme proposes school visits and interactive workshops and has so far reached 700 children, parents and teachers. The team is made of volunteer scientists at different stages of their careers and currently includes 26 undergraduates, 5 postgrads and 6 researchers.

NUI Galway Science Experience Summer Event participants
NUI Galway Science Experience Summer Event participants

Last week, Cell EXPLORERS presented some of the model organisms used by School of Natural Sciences researchers, including E. coli, Baker’s yeast, Hydractinia, P. patens, Arabidopsis, Zebrafish, and HeLa cells,  to the Science Experience Summer Event participants!

You can follow Cell EXPLORERS activities on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cellexplorers