Innovation Anthology #501:

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Imagine speeding up the lifecycle of a fruit fly to the point where it matures twice as fast.

University of Alberta biologist Dr. Kirst King-Jones discovered how to do that while studying Drosophila Hormone Receptor Number 4 in fruit flies.

This protein regulates steroid hormone production. And Dr. King-Jones was surprised to find it oscillates rapidly in and out of the cell nucleus.

DR. KIRST KING-JONES: This neuro-peptide that we found out that regulated this behavior is a master control peptide for steroid hormone pulses. So the development of the fruit fly is coordinated by these steroid hormone pulses. Let’s say it would say, now we are going to molt. Which means that the larva sheds its cuticle and makes a new cuticle so it can accommodate growth. So what happened was that these pulses occurred more frequently when we knocked out the function of this protein. So the entire development of the animal was accelerated. It’s like if you would have the equivalent problem in a human, you would basically enter puberty much faster.

Dr. King-Jones says even though the fruit flies develop faster, they’re also smaller because they don’t have much time to feed.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

For Innovation Anthology
I’m Cheryl Croucher

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Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

Program Date: 2012-10-02