Next 1/04/2022, at 11:30h, a research conference entitled “Body weight and control of sexual maturation” will take place in the auditorium of the Institute of Bioengineering, located in the Vinalopó building of the Elche campus, as part of the program of seminars of the Master in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and the PhD Program in Bioengineering. The lecture will be given by Dr. Javier Morante Oria (CSIC Senior Scientist) from the Institute of Neurosciences of Alicante, and is organized by Prof. José Manuel Pérez Pérez, Professor of Genetics and researcher at the Institute of Bioengineering of the UMH:
Brief description of the talk.
“During the development of an organism, steroid release induces the transition from juvenile growth to sexual maturation in humans and insects alike. The initiation of this change is a controlled process, requiring the assessment of checkpoints based on nutrient levels and growth status. How exactly these signals are integrated to dictate when an animal may reach sexual maturity, as well as what molecular and cellular mechanisms trigger this critical decision, remains a fascinating mystery. Childhood obesity, whose prevalence is increasing to pandemic proportions, has been associated in girls with precocious puberty. On the other hand, malnutrition and intense physical training may delay puberty. Previous work has also shown that a deficiency of leptin or its receptors leads to hyperphagia, early-onset obesity, and delayed or complete failure to initiate the pubertal transition. In our research group we use Drosohphila, aiming to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms and neuroendocrine circuits required for the regulation of sexual maturation and body weight control.”