UNIMELB_IDRIS-FirmanPrathama_VYT-LOCAL-2023.mp4

The video describes what I am trying to achieve in my PhD. Sexual development is a precise and complex process which involves multiple genes and gene networks. One of the most important gene in that process is the SRY gene which acts as a molecular switch that triggers male sexual development. Variations of the SRY gene is known to cause Differences of Sexual Development (DSD). DSD refers to the atypical development of chromosomal, anatomical, and gonadal sex and it occurs in 1 every 4500 births. Due to the variety of phenotypes, the diagnosis and management of DSD is often complicated. Most of what is currently known about SRY regulation is derived from mice model studies. However, it also known that human specific regulation of testis development pathway proteins exists. Therefore, it is important to find alternative models to study human sexual development in order to better understand the pathogenesis of DSD. Our group has developed an induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived model for testis development. The objective of this research is to analyse the expression of SRY in our testis organoid model and to investigate how modification of proteins that are involved in testis development might contribute to SRY regulation.