Dr. Alfonso Martinez Arias is a developmental biologist. Over the last fifteen years, his work has focused on using Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) to explore cell fate decisions during mammalian development. Recently, his lab has developed a novel experimental system which is changing the way to study early mammalian development.  Defined numbers of mouse ESCs are aggregated in controlled culture conditions and over time develop structures that mimic the organization of the vertebrate embryo; they are called ‘gastruloids’ because they mirror the process of gastrulation.

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