interdisciplinary research presented in ‘plain
By MITZI BAKER
A Bio-X goal of breaking down barriers to
collaboration between researchers from Stanford’s various
schools depends upon overcoming the language barrier: Scientists
from different disciplines often speak different dialects.
The ongoing interest in stimulating new ways of looking at research
questions by having input from different fields has inspired the
“Bio-X Talks in English,” a seminar series that samples
the diversity of topics included in Bio-X and is presented in a
manner accessible to those less-than-fluent in field-specific
Held Monday afternoon in Gates Auditorium on the main campus, the
first lecture attracted a nearly even mix of attendees from arts
and humanities, engineering and medicine. The group heard about two
basic topics: cellular differentiation and molecular motors, both
of which are biological puzzles that may be solved with the help of
physical and mathematical tools. Bio-X is the university’s
broad-based effort to unite engineering, medicine, biology and
other fields in research efforts.
Bio-X faculty members
James Spudich (left) and Scott Delp. Photo: Mitzi Baker
Claire Tomlin, PhD, assistant professor of aeronautics and
astronautics, presented data from a project in which she has teamed
with Jeffery Axelrod, MD, PhD, assistant professor of
Tomlin uses her engineering skills to develop mathematical models
a biological problem: how cells, which all initially start out the
same, guide one another’s development into different types of
cells by delivering messages to each other. The researchers use the
fruit fly to explore how cells transmit signals, which may help
illustrate the similar processes in humans.
Biochemistry professor James Spudich, PhD, discussed with Scott
Delp, PhD, associate professor of bioengineering, the mechanics
underlying many types of motion critical to cellular life,
including locomotion, cell division and muscle contraction.
He painted a vivid picture of the cell organized as a city plan
consisting of filamentous highways, protein construction crews and
street signs and molecular motor cars, complete with cellular fuel
“Cells are very clever,” said Spudich, explaining that
all of the city planning elements of the cell can change to create
the different functions required of various cells.
Combining his efforts with researchers from the departments of
mechanical engineering, structural biology and chemistry, Spudich
is working on mathematical models to understand the molecular
motors vital to cell function.