Title: A genomic approach to investigate interactions between touch-sensing neurons and skin cells.

Dr. Fang Wang, Assistant Professor, Biology Department
 
Abstract: Peripheral axons of touch-sensing neurons innervate the skin early in development to detect mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli. This process is crucial for animals to sense their environment and respond appropriately. Many studies, including my previous research, have revealed the intimate relationship between sensory neurons and skin cells, which not only play an important role during development but also may be a critical factor in axon degeneration and regeneration after injury. However, these interactions have not been well characterized. Currently, I am systematically investigating the relationships between touch-sensing neurons and skin cells using a genomic approach (using ultra-high-throughput sequencing to quantify genes expressed in specific tissues under specific conditions). This talk will focus on the bioinformatics analyses required in my research.