Brain Glia Cells Increase Their DNA Content to Preserve Vital Blood-Brain Barrier
Friday, January 13, 2012 - 11:30
in Biology & Nature
Whitehead Institute scientists report that the growing fruit fly brain instructs glia cells that form the blood-brain barrier to enlarge by creating multiple copies of their genomes in a process known as polyploidization. Cell layers in other organs such as the human placenta and skin may employ a similar strategy.