James Schmidt is part of Willsey Lab, where the team studies Koolen-de Vries Syndrome—a rare genetic disorder that can include developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and increased sociability.
It’s caused by a mutation in a gene called KANSL1, which plays a key role in building cilia—tiny, antenna-like structures that help cells communicate and sense their surroundings.
📸 Seen here in the lab, James is microinjecting embryos to help study how this gene may shape behavior.
🎥 In the video, we get a microscopic look at how KANSL1 affects the structure and motion of cilia in real time.
This research is part of our broader work at CZI to better understand how cells function—so we can treat, diagnose, and eventually prevent disease.
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