Pigeons from Chickens: Michael McGrew at TEDxDeExtinction

Mike McGrew is Group Leader, Developmental Biology, at The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh. He obtained his PhD from Boston University in 1998 and pursued a research program in embryology at the IBDM, France. There, he was part of a research group that discovered a basic mechanism controlling the timing of the formation of body segments in vertebrates, now known as the ’segmentation clock’. Afterwards, he joined The Roslin Institute in 2001 to help develop transgenesis in chickens for use in developmental biology and bio-pharming. His research interests are now focused on a specialised type of stem cell; the primordial germ cell. His laboratory is interested addressing how germ cells form and migrate in birds and to develop advanced gene targeting techniques for avian germ cells. To learn more about de-extinction, please visit Revive & Restore (the organizer of TEDxDeExtinction) here: In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)