Molecular Biology and Genetics Seminars: Dr. Yiğit Kocagöz
Dr. Yiğit Kocagöz (Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center-IBG) will be the next guest of the seminar series organized by KHAS Molecular Biology and Genetics Department with his speech “Under The Sea, Above The Nose: Investigating Adult Neurogenesis through The Zebrafish Olfactory Epithelium” on Thursday, January 4 at 16:30 at B-212.
Abstract: Adult neurogenesis refers to the ongoing creation of young, functional neurons in animals beyond their developmental stages. While this process has been observed across various organisms since the 1960s, uncovering the precise molecular mechanisms driving adult neurogenesis remains a formidable challenge. Researchers continue to strive for the development of sophisticated methodologies and model systems to delve deeper into specific components and concepts at the molecular and cellular levels.
Among the various tissues serving as model systems for adult neurogenesis, the adult zebrafish olfactory epithelium stands out for its remarkable responsiveness to a wide array of traumatic events. This epithelium hosts diverse populations of progenitor cells that consistently undergo proliferation under both normal physiological conditions and in response to pathologies. Notably, distinct groups of progenitor cells exhibit selective activity within the zebrafish olfactory epithelium, rendering it an outstanding model for studying injuries.
The presentation will provide a concise overview of the olfactory epithelium’s unique characteristics, encompassing its morphology, cellular attributes, and the pivotal molecular signals that orchestrate its remarkable regenerative capacities.
About the Speaker: Yigit Kocagöz, born in Istanbul in 1987, graduated from Bogazici University with a degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2011. Continuing his academic journey, he completed his MSc at Heidelberg University in 2014, followed by earning his PhD from Bogazici University in 2021. Presently, he contributes as a postdoctoral researcher at the Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Turkey.
Dr. Kocagöz expresses a profound interest in visual story-telling and comics. He has actively contributed to numerous projects in the realm of comics, serving as an author, artist, and editor over the years. Notably, his graphic novel “Karadut Ekspres” was published by Presstij Comics in 2020. That same year, he won the first prize in COVID-19 Creative Communication Competition hosted by The FEBS Journal with his comic entry. He is currently working on the sequel to his graphic novel.