Stephanie Woo
@itsthewoolab.bsky.social
Associate professor at the University of California Merced. Posts are my own. My lab uses zebrafish to study morphogenesis of the endoderm. It's offal-y interesting.
I had to adjust the blinds in my office! I forgot I have blinds!
December 17, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I had to adjust the blinds in my office! I forgot I have blinds!
Judges were on our side!
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Judges were on our side!
The Woo and Materna Labs have weighed in on the “Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie” debate
December 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The Woo and Materna Labs have weighed in on the “Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie” debate
Jaxson Ramirez, an undergrad, performed the @hcrimaging.bsky.social fluorescent in situs of EphA expression. We wish him best of luck as he starts pharmacy school at UCSD! 3/6
December 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Jaxson Ramirez, an undergrad, performed the @hcrimaging.bsky.social fluorescent in situs of EphA expression. We wish him best of luck as he starts pharmacy school at UCSD! 3/6
Finally, we used a combination of transcriptomics, pharmacological inhibition, and CRISPR gene editing to show that endodermal cells are likely using EphA receptors to recognize each other and initiate CIL.
Please have a read and tell us what you think! 9/9
Please have a read and tell us what you think! 9/9
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Finally, we used a combination of transcriptomics, pharmacological inhibition, and CRISPR gene editing to show that endodermal cells are likely using EphA receptors to recognize each other and initiate CIL.
Please have a read and tell us what you think! 9/9
Please have a read and tell us what you think! 9/9
We experimentally validated the model’s predictions by using DN RhoA expression to block CIL, which caused endodermal cells to form irregular clumps. Notably, first author Jesselynn LaBelle developed a way to quantify these irregular patterns using Voronoi analysis and Delaunay triangulation. 8/9
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
We experimentally validated the model’s predictions by using DN RhoA expression to block CIL, which caused endodermal cells to form irregular clumps. Notably, first author Jesselynn LaBelle developed a way to quantify these irregular patterns using Voronoi analysis and Delaunay triangulation. 8/9
A molecular hallmark of CIL is activation of the small GTPase RhoA. Indeed, when we expressed a dominant-negative RhoA, we saw attenuated endodermal CIL responses. 4/9
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A molecular hallmark of CIL is activation of the small GTPase RhoA. Indeed, when we expressed a dominant-negative RhoA, we saw attenuated endodermal CIL responses. 4/9
We noticed that during dispersal, endodermal cells seem to actively avoid each other. Cell collisions consistently triggered a set of responses, including membrane retraction and reorientation of the leading edge, that is characteristic of contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL). 3/9
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
We noticed that during dispersal, endodermal cells seem to actively avoid each other. Cell collisions consistently triggered a set of responses, including membrane retraction and reorientation of the leading edge, that is characteristic of contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL). 3/9
New paper alert! We report that #zebrafish endodermal cells use contact inhibition of locomotion as a dispersal and spacing mechanism. It’s a neat example of large-scale patterns emerging from local interactions using a simple set of rules. Summary in the thread below 1/9
doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
New paper alert! We report that #zebrafish endodermal cells use contact inhibition of locomotion as a dispersal and spacing mechanism. It’s a neat example of large-scale patterns emerging from local interactions using a simple set of rules. Summary in the thread below 1/9
doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
3/3 And last but not least, thank you to everyone who presented at the talks and poster sessions!
With gratitude,
Your #wcsdb2025 Organizers
Frank, Jaimie & Stephanie 🍻
With gratitude,
Your #wcsdb2025 Organizers
Frank, Jaimie & Stephanie 🍻
August 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
3/3 And last but not least, thank you to everyone who presented at the talks and poster sessions!
With gratitude,
Your #wcsdb2025 Organizers
Frank, Jaimie & Stephanie 🍻
With gratitude,
Your #wcsdb2025 Organizers
Frank, Jaimie & Stephanie 🍻
1/3 Thank you to everyone who attended the West Coast Society for Developmental Biology #wcsdb2025 meeting this weekend! Beyond all the cool science presented (and boy howdy, there was plenty!), it was a joy to see all the connections made, both old and new, in our dev bio community.
August 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
1/3 Thank you to everyone who attended the West Coast Society for Developmental Biology #wcsdb2025 meeting this weekend! Beyond all the cool science presented (and boy howdy, there was plenty!), it was a joy to see all the connections made, both old and new, in our dev bio community.
Strong showing of @ucmerced.bsky.social students and alumni at the West Coast Society for Developmental Biology meeting!
And congrats to I-BEST REU student Abigail Hart for winning 3rd place for best undergrad poster presentation!
#wcsdb2025
And congrats to I-BEST REU student Abigail Hart for winning 3rd place for best undergrad poster presentation!
#wcsdb2025
August 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Strong showing of @ucmerced.bsky.social students and alumni at the West Coast Society for Developmental Biology meeting!
And congrats to I-BEST REU student Abigail Hart for winning 3rd place for best undergrad poster presentation!
#wcsdb2025
And congrats to I-BEST REU student Abigail Hart for winning 3rd place for best undergrad poster presentation!
#wcsdb2025
It’s been a pleasure hosting #NSF REU student Abigail Hart in our lab this summer! Abby and all the other summer students are truly our next generation of scientists. Here’s hoping these training programs continue to receive the support they deserve!
August 1, 2025 at 6:42 PM
It’s been a pleasure hosting #NSF REU student Abigail Hart in our lab this summer! Abby and all the other summer students are truly our next generation of scientists. Here’s hoping these training programs continue to receive the support they deserve!
Last day to register for the 2025 West Coast SDB meeting is this Thursday, July 31! www.sdbonline.org/wcsdb2025 #wcsdb2025
July 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Last day to register for the 2025 West Coast SDB meeting is this Thursday, July 31! www.sdbonline.org/wcsdb2025 #wcsdb2025
What is this anti-vertebrate propaganda?
July 12, 2025 at 11:13 PM
What is this anti-vertebrate propaganda?
Just a reminder that the abstract deadline for a short talks at the West Coast SDB meeting is coming up next week! Links to abstract submission, registration, and the preliminary program can be found here: www.sdbonline.org/wcsdb2025 #wcsdb2025
July 3, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Just a reminder that the abstract deadline for a short talks at the West Coast SDB meeting is coming up next week! Links to abstract submission, registration, and the preliminary program can be found here: www.sdbonline.org/wcsdb2025 #wcsdb2025
On behalf of my social media-less husband: Congratulations to Dr. Gloria Ligunas, a first for the Materna Lab!!!
And many thanks to Panaderia Guadalajara for the custom cake!
And many thanks to Panaderia Guadalajara for the custom cake!
June 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
On behalf of my social media-less husband: Congratulations to Dr. Gloria Ligunas, a first for the Materna Lab!!!
And many thanks to Panaderia Guadalajara for the custom cake!
And many thanks to Panaderia Guadalajara for the custom cake!
Website and registration will open soon for the West Coast SDB meeting, Aug 14–17 at Cal-Poly SLO! Abstract deadline for talks is July 7. Final deadline for abstracts (posters) and registration is July 31. We will have prizes for best undergrad, grad, and post doc presentations! #wcsdb2025 1/4
May 29, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Website and registration will open soon for the West Coast SDB meeting, Aug 14–17 at Cal-Poly SLO! Abstract deadline for talks is July 7. Final deadline for abstracts (posters) and registration is July 31. We will have prizes for best undergrad, grad, and post doc presentations! #wcsdb2025 1/4
Today is commencement at UC Merced. Congratulations to Woo Lab undergrad Jaxson Ramirez! Jaxson has been our HCR Wunderkind. We will miss him but are excited for his next chapter. 🎉
May 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Today is commencement at UC Merced. Congratulations to Woo Lab undergrad Jaxson Ramirez! Jaxson has been our HCR Wunderkind. We will miss him but are excited for his next chapter. 🎉
Beautiful day for some collective action #standupforscience
March 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Beautiful day for some collective action #standupforscience
My view from lab for the next few weeks. Thanks so much to the @streichan.bsky.social lab for hosting me!
March 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
My view from lab for the next few weeks. Thanks so much to the @streichan.bsky.social lab for hosting me!
Little L enjoying the children’s playroom at #cellbio2024
December 16, 2024 at 1:17 AM
Little L enjoying the children’s playroom at #cellbio2024
Congrats to the UC Merced men’s soccer team, 2024 Cal Pac champions!
November 10, 2024 at 5:11 AM
Congrats to the UC Merced men’s soccer team, 2024 Cal Pac champions!
Good people of Merced, the Woo Lab will be proselytizing for #zebrafish and #devbio @KiDSMerced this Sunday from 1-3 pm. Admission is free!
September 26, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Good people of Merced, the Woo Lab will be proselytizing for #zebrafish and #devbio @KiDSMerced this Sunday from 1-3 pm. Admission is free!
Authors: Only endoderm blastomeres display blebbing
My brain: What about the TLC cells? Do they creep?
My brain: What about the TLC cells? Do they creep?
September 17, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Authors: Only endoderm blastomeres display blebbing
My brain: What about the TLC cells? Do they creep?
My brain: What about the TLC cells? Do they creep?