POTSDAM — Alex Schreiber, professor of biology at St. Lawrence University will present “Unravelling the Mysteries of Frog Metamorphosis” at the next Clarkson University Science Café Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:15 p.m.

Frog metamorphosis is a spectacular example of animal development with which most people have some familiarity. The process is mediated by three categories of “developmental programs”:

1) programmed cell death, such as the resorption of the tail and gills,

2) cell proliferation, including the growth of limbs and lungs, and

3) organ remodeling, such as the transformation of the herbivorous tadpole intestine into a carnivorous frog gut.

Remarkably, all of these developmental programs are regulated primarily by the actions of one thyroid hormone. In this talk, Schreiber (biology, St. Lawrence University) will review the physiology of frog metamorphosis and discuss his lab’s ongoing research on immune system remodeling during metamorphosis.

Traditionally, Science Cafés have brought together local university and college professors and townspeople in relaxed, informal settings, such as coffeehouses and pubs.

For the health and safety of all, we will continue with a virtual platform (ZOOM) for the fall 2021 talks.

The speaker will make a short presentation about a topic in his or her field and, as always, there will be time for questions and discussion.

This ZOOM meeting link [required to access the meeting] will be used for all of the fall 2021 talks and is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/sciencecafe.

Info: sciencecafe@clarkson.edu .

The Science Café is sponsored by Clarkson University School of Arts & Sciences.