How chromosomes are passed on during egg and sperm formation
Meiotic Chromosome Inheritance in Caenorhabditis
Researchers are studying how reproductive cells organize and separate their chromosomes to help reduce the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses the microscopic worm C. elegans to learn how egg and sperm cells organize and separate chromosomes during meiosis. Scientists will examine the cellular structures, DNA breaks, and crossover events that help chromosomes pair and segregate, using genetic tools and high-resolution imaging. By watching these processes in the worms, the team aims to identify mechanisms that prevent too many or too few chromosomes (aneuploidy). Those findings could help explain why some human pregnancies end in miscarriage or result in chromosomal birth defects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: There is no patient enrollment for this lab-based project, but the findings are most relevant to people affected by recurrent pregnancy loss or chromosomal birth defects.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or trials are unlikely to benefit directly because this is basic research conducted in a non-human model.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal basic mechanisms behind chromosome errors that lead to miscarriage and birth defects and guide future diagnostic or preventive strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using C. elegans and other model organisms have successfully uncovered conserved meiotic mechanisms, so this approach builds on an established track record.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Villeneuve, Anne M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Villeneuve, Anne M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.