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Speaker: Jingwei Song, Research Associate, Oregon State University's Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES)/USDA-ARS Pacific Shellfish Breeding Center

Topic: Regeneration Revealed: A Single-Cell Journey into Hydractinia

Regeneration is a remarkable biological phenomenon that has captivated scientists for over a century. Among the most fascinating organisms with regenerative capabilities is Hydractinia, a marine colonial hydrozoan that has been a subject of study since the 1880s, beginning with the pioneering work of August Weismann. This extraordinary organism possesses the ability to regenerate throughout its life, a feat made possible by its population of stem cells capable of differentiating into all other cell types. With modern genetic tools, we can now delve into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning Hydractinia's regenerative prowess. Single-cell RNA-sequencing has proven invaluable in this effort, providing unprecedented resolution into the diverse cellular populations and their gene expression dynamics. In this seminar, I will introduce the biology of Hydractinia and highlight its significance as a model system for studying regeneration. I will also discuss the application of single-cell RNA-sequencing to this species, detailing key insights gleaned from this rich dataset and their implications for understanding stem cell biology and regenerative mechanisms.