Course Description
Why Our Science Matters
The “Learning Lounge” features young scientists who, in 20 minutes deliver a presentation that will persuade any curious listener, even those without a scientific background, why their research area — not just the personal research of the speaker — is important to the world.

Dr. Yoji Kojima
“Decoding the Keys of Our Life Cycle”
Human life starts from a single cell, the fertilized egg, made from a sperm and an egg from the parents. This cell gives rise to all our body parts including the germ cells, from which offspring develop. How is this life cycle maintained? Join us to learn about the key players, the germ cells, and why and how we use the iPS cells to understand their behaviors.
In Saitou group, we have established a method to differentiate mouse ES cells to Primordial Germ Cell (PGC)-like cells. By applying this to human iPS cells, we are trying to peek inside the tightly locked blackbox— “The mechanisms of birth defects resulting from abnormal germ cells development”. We are striving to understand the molecular mechanisms of the birth defects, and hope someday in the future, we come across the clues to prevent them.