A literature review of neural development and cell reprogramming gives insight into the complexity of the mechanisms that take place during differentiation. Many technologies for transfection exist, however each has its own drawbacks. Most commonly, low efficiency rates, high cytotoxicity, expensive costs, transient transfections, and high variability are disadvantages to traditional methods of transfection. The novel technology of nanochannel electroporation (NEP) solves a wide range of these issues with significantly higher efficiency rates and low cell-to-cell variability through single cell transfection. NEP done on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with transcription factors Brn2, Ascl1, and Myt1l (BAM) found that addition of particular patterning genes to BAM-mediated reprogramming increased induced neuron efficiency and complexity. Additionally a possible dependence on the cell cycle and a dedifferentiation to a progenitor-like stage were demonstrated during neuronal reprogramming. The results reveal a stochastic nature to BAM-mediated neuronal reprogramming, allowing for a greater understanding of cell reprogramming and its applications in regenerative medicine.Diversity Supplement to the NIH Grant 3R21EB017539-01A1S1 of Dr. José OteroKathryn Sullivan ScholarshipAutumn 2013 Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research ScholarshipMayers Summer Research ScholarshipOffice of Diversity and Inclusion Undergraduate Research GrantNo embargoAcademic Major: Biolog
