Honors College Theses

Publication Date

12-14-2023

Major

Biology (B.S.B.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Dongyu Jia

Abstract

The development of early detection methods and cutting-edge, effective treatments may be facilitated by a knowledge of the molecular etiology and heterogeneity of ovarian cancer. Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are practical and affordable model organisms due to their short life cycle and ease of propagation. Although humans and Drosophila have fundamentally different anatomical and physiological structures, the mechanisms governing molecular signaling pathways are highly evolutionarily conserved and show striking similarities. As a result, fruit flies can be used as a model to research the molecular processes that contribute to the development and spread of ovarian cancer. Each of the Drosophila's two ovaries has 14-18 ovarian tubules (ovarioles). Each ovariole's apical end contains the so-called germarium. It has two to four follicular stem cells and two germline stem cells. The egg chamber develops progressively throughout oogenesis. It has 16 germline cells, of which 1 will develop into an oocyte and the remaining 15 become nurse cells. It is believed that the follicular epithelium is similar to the human ovarian surface epithelium. From the previous studies of Jia Lab, we have already identified dozens of conserved human genes playing a role in Drosophila growth and development. There are some genes which are potential oncogenes that participate in promoting ovarian cancer. We will introduce these human oncogenes in Drosophila ovarian cells, and analyze morphology and potential tumorigenesis of the ovarian cells.

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Available for download on Saturday, October 14, 2028

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