Faculty
Schulich School of Dentistry and Medicine
Supervisor Name
Matthew W. Grol
Keywords
Tendon, Achilles, Patellar, Identity, Development, Collagen, Purinergic Signalling
Description
Tendons are fibrous connective tissues that connect skeletal muscle to bone. Functioning primarily to facilitate locomotion, these tissues are rich with collagen and other minor collagens and proteoglycans. Nevertheless, with over 4000 tendons in the human body, the molecular pathways that define different tendons remain largely unknown. As such, the clear distinction between tendon identity, particularly at the genetic level has yet to be fully established. Similarly, molecular pathways involved in tendon developments remain to be fully elucidated. Despite the important role of tendons in motor coordination and posture, a number of areas in tendon development and identity have yet to be fully explored. This poster aims to explore several molecular pathways and genes of interests involved in both tendon development and tendon identity to ultimately bridge the gap between the muscle and tendon.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Dr. Matthew W. Grol for allowing me to further my research experience and explore the very tissue I have grown to love.
Thank you to the researchers of the MSK project for their guidance and advice throughout the duration of my internship.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Document Type
Poster
Bridging the Gap between Muscle and Bone: Examining Tendon Identity and Development
Tendons are fibrous connective tissues that connect skeletal muscle to bone. Functioning primarily to facilitate locomotion, these tissues are rich with collagen and other minor collagens and proteoglycans. Nevertheless, with over 4000 tendons in the human body, the molecular pathways that define different tendons remain largely unknown. As such, the clear distinction between tendon identity, particularly at the genetic level has yet to be fully established. Similarly, molecular pathways involved in tendon developments remain to be fully elucidated. Despite the important role of tendons in motor coordination and posture, a number of areas in tendon development and identity have yet to be fully explored. This poster aims to explore several molecular pathways and genes of interests involved in both tendon development and tendon identity to ultimately bridge the gap between the muscle and tendon.