Multifaceted biology: from protein structure to cellular agriculture

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionized structural biology, a field that explores the three-dimensional arrangement of molecules that are at the center of all biological structures and processes. When applied to cells, it allows us to investigate these molecules in their native cellular environment. In combination with tomography – an imaging approach to capture a volume rather than a two-dimensional image – we visualize the complex and highly specialized biology of sperm cells in 3D. This enables us to explore and rediscover the sperm cells architecture at an unprecedented level of detail. Larger molecular assemblies are visible directly in the tomograms, like the motor apparatus that drives the beating of the sperm tail. Finer details require advanced image analysis tools. For instance, we compare mouse, boar and stallion sperm at the molecular level, revealing similarities but also some previously unnoticed differences. Ultimately, these findings help us to improve the cause of infertility, potentially leading to better diagnosis and treatment.
How cryogenic-electron microscopy and tomography work, how we apply it to sperm cells and what we learn about fertility will be discussed in this session.

Cultivated or lab-grown meat is an emerging biotechnology with the potential to revolutionise food production from both an environmental and ethical perspective, but its development is held back by severe limitations of animal cells with respect to culture 'in vitro’. In his talk, Josh will discuss some of these challenges and explain how his group in the Biotechnology Department at TU Delft engineer cells with favourable properties for large-scale, cost-effective production of genuine meat products without the need for animal slaughter.

What if we could grow miniature versions of the human pancreas in the lab. How would we do it? Why would we want to do it? What could we use it for?
The pancreas is built of three types of cells that each serve a specific role. Together this allows the pancreas to help our body perform two very important functions: digest food and control blood sugar levels. How are these cells formed during organ development? Please join us to find out if the lab grown miniature versions hold the answer.