The IGBB logo features a stylized "pinwheel" to the left of the letters IGBB in caps in a modified Bank Gothic Pro font.
The six-part "pinwheel" in the IGBB logo is:
- A symbol of lab unity as it shows "parts" coming together to make a "whole."
- A flower or three-leaf clover representing (a) plants, important subjects of our research, (b) life in general, and (c) the life sciences (biology).
- A set of chromosomes being moved towards the center of a cell.
- The Sun - another symbol of life.
- A protein composed of six subunits (e.g., a protein pore).
- Three foxes putting their heads together. The fox is a symbol of cleverness in Western folklore. Since the IGBB is organized into three service groups (Genomics, Proteomics/Metabolomics, and Biocomputing/Computational Biology), the foxes could represent the three disciplines working together.
- A scientist jumping for joy after making an important discovery.
- A windmill, the primary symbol associated with Cervantes' famous character Don Quixote - Like Don Quixote, scientists must be willing to attack 'wicked giants' (e.g., ignorance, racism, sexism, intolerance, use of the term 'science' in the promotion of non-scientific causes), champion worthy causes (e.g., education, intellectual freedom, human rights, environmental responsibility), and remain optimistic in the face of defeat (e.g., most days in the lab). Hopefully, however, the average scientist can accomplish these tasks without becoming delusional (a problem that squashed Quixote's dreams of becoming a plant molecular biologist).
- A DNA double-helix or protein in cross section.
- Antibodies binding to a protein.
- Whatever you want it to be.

Dr. Charles A. Thrash (Adam)Computer Specialist
BIOCOMPUTING
emailn/a
Knoxville, TN

Melatonin increases cleavage rate of porcine preimplantation embryos in vitro
IGBB Authors:
Erdogan Memili, Nelida Rodriguez-OsorioPUBLICATION YEAR:
2007IMPACT FACTOR:
4.743CITATION COUNT:
120Rodriguez-Osorio N, Kim IJ, Wang H, Kaya A, Memili E (2007) Melatonin increases cleavage rate of porcine preimplantation embryos in vitro.
Journal of Pineal Research 43(3): 283-288.
DOI:
10.1111/j.1600-079X.2007.00475.xEID:
2-s2.0-34548427517PMID: 17803526
DOWNLOAD PDFABSTRACTMelatonin has been used to promote in vitro embryo development in different species. This study determined the effects of melatonin on in vitro porcine embryo development; in particular, cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, and blastocyst cell number. Starting 5 hr after insemination, porcine zygotes were cultured in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3) culture medium supplemented with melatonin at increasing concentrations (10-12 m, 10-9 m, 10-6 m, 10-3 m). Melatonin at a concentration of 10 -9 m had a positive effect on cleavage rates, while the highest concentration of melatonin (10-3 m) significantly decreased cleavage rates. Although blastocyst rates were not increased by 10-9 m melatonin, blastocyst cell numbers were significantly higher for embryos subjected to 10-9 m melatonin. The expression levels of the pro-apoptotic gene BAX and anti-apoptotic gene BCL2L1 in blastocysts were not affected by the presence of melatonin in the culture medium. To further study the protective properties of 10-9 m melatonin against stressful conditions, hydrogen peroxide (0.01 mm) and heat (40°C) were used during embryo culture. The addition of melatonin to embryos subjected to 40°C for 3 hr increased cleavage rates, but had no protective effect for embryos subjected to 0.01 mm H2O2, probably because the physiological levels of melatonin could not counteract the pharmacological levels of H 2O2. Our data indicate that 10-9 m melatonin has a positive effect on porcine embryo cleavage rates and blastocyst total cell numbers and it might have a protective effect against heat stress.
The IGBB is supported, in part, by the following units:
The IGBB is an HPC² member center.