How does a single cell grow into the astonishing complexity of a human body? The secret lies in stem cells: the body’s ultimate shape-shifters. These blank-slate cells allow us to build, repair, and regenerate our tissues - they can form muscles, brain tissue, skin, and more!

Dr. Idse Heemskerk, Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, uses pluripotent stem cells - stem cells that can make any cell type - to study the earliest steps of human development. By recreating these early “patterning” events in the lab, scientists can investigate how cells decide what they will become—without creating structures capable of forming a complete embryo. This delicate boundary is a hot topic in science, ethics, and policy, especially as some stem cell models can begin to assemble features resembling early organs. Dr. Nicole Edwards, from the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, uses both frog embryos and human stem cell models to study early organ development and how genetic mutations lead to birth defects.

Join Dr. Heemskerk and Dr. Edwards to learn how stem cells help decode the rules of development, what these new stem-cell-based embryo models can (and can’t) do, and why this cutting-edge research is reshaping our understanding of what it means to build a human body.

Grab a drink and join us as we explore how scientists are using stem cells to decode nature’s biggest construction project—no hard hat required.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6:00 p.m.

Seating is limited—come early.

UMMNH would like to thank Conor O’Neill’s for 15+ years of support for our Science Cafés.