The WiB Science, Research and Medicine group visited the Max Planck Institute (MPI) For Molecular Genetics in Dahlem on 2 February 2023. We thank our club member, Christel Sieger, whose good work relationship in the institute led us to the opportunity to organize this event with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Schrewe on "Development of model organisms and principles in stem cell therapy".

The MPI is dedicated to the study of stem cells, the decoding the human genome, the function of our genes and its influence to diseases in the hope of finding new therapy approaches. These complex topics were explained in details by Prof. Schrewe in a manner that was comprehensible for non-expert. The WiB members learned about embryonic stem cells, early embryonic development in mammals, the principles of stem cell biology relating to modern medicine as well as the research with induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS).

After the lecture, the members had a tour through the laboratory area of the institute to take a peek at the centrifuge where the the stem cells are frozen at minus 172° and thus can be preserved indefinitely. It was truly an amazing presentation and an enriching experience