Several cell types in our tissues grow and divide for a finite number of times before they die. The total number of division events a cell undergoes is termed as replicative lifespan. When genetically identical cells are followed under the microscope, they often display differences in their lifespan. Scientists led by Dr. Murat Acar, of Yale University, have developed and are using a state-of-the-art microfluidics platform to automatically monitor the aging of single cells to understand how cells sharing the same environment can be different in terms of their lifespan and other key phenotypes that they display.

Using the baker’s yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae as their model organism, Dr. Acar and his interdisciplinary team of scientists are applying a combination of experimental and computational tools in their research. Yeast is a single-cell organism that divides as fast as every 90 minutes. Since a number of genetic and cell-biological processes are commonly shared between yeast and human cells, many results from Dr. Acar’s studies will be translatable to human cells.

The specific goals of Dr. Acar’s research program is to:

• explore the molecular, genetic, and cell-biological mechanisms of cellular aging

• elucidate principles governing the evolution of genes and gene networks that are tasked with processing environmental signals

• quantitatively study how epigenetic variability is built and controlled among genetically-identical cells

Typically, laboratories in life sciences are either experimentally or computationally oriented. The Acar laboratory possesses a rarely-seen, hybrid quality due to its multidisciplinary team of researchers working under the roof of the same laboratory on a daily basis. This facilitates the application of several different experimental and computational perspectives on challenging scientific questions. Dr. Acar and his team aim to elucidate specific genes, proteins, and gene networks that, when re-programmed, can make cells live longer and healthier.