News

The progression of Rett Syndrome in a mouse model

Rett syndrome, a common neurodevelopmental disorder in girls, alters motor skills and cognition, with disruptions in digestion and metabolism frequently occurring in affected individuals. The Janine LaSalle lab, including Demario Chappell -- MCBGAP alumnus and current med student at Albert Einstein Medical College -- have identified new pathways of the progression of Rett Syndrome, with changes in the gut microbiome and metabolism emerging prior to the onset of neurological symptoms. Further, they observed sexual dimorphism in disease progression within mouse models.

Blog post by alumna Marlynn Rollins

In summer 2020, Marlynn Rollins, a PhD student in the UC Davis Ecology program and Howard University alumna, served as a writing intern for California Sea Grant. Her latest blog post explores the connections between California abalone and human populations, with lessons for conservation, biodiversity, and policy. It's really good!