Course Description
Contemporary approaches to the study of neural development, emphasizing genetic, cell biological, and molecular techniques. Topics include generation, patterning, differentiation, and survival of neurons, axon guidance, synapse formation/elimination, topographic map formation, activity- dependent mechanisms of connectivity, and the relationship between neural development, and behavior.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In lieu of the normal term paper, graduate students will be
evaluated based on their performance on an extensively
researched, thoughtfully-developed grant proposal that explores
new directions in the field (in addition to class participation
and the two exams).
Athena Title
Neural Development
Undergraduate Prerequisite
GENE 3200-3200D or GENE 3200H or CBIO 3800
Graduate Prerequisite
GENE 3200-3200D or GENE 3200H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
After completion of the course, students will gain an understanding of advanced concepts and current issues related to development of the nervous system in model organisms. This course will be primarily driven by reading of primary literature papers and in-class discussion of the questions, methods, findings, and implications of the work. The instructor will provide brief lectures and lead the discussions, but the discussion will be student-driven. Selected readings from a textbook and review papers will be included as background for understanding the primary literature discussed. The topics of the course will covered in two parts. Part I will address topics primarily at the cellular level and Part II will deal with issues of connectivity at the systems level. By the end of the course, students should a) have a strong foundation with respect to learning and understanding the major developmental processes that drive assembly of the nervous system, b) be able to reading and understand complex primary literature with an emphasis on genetic approaches, and c) be able to integrate this knowledge to creatively propose alternative explanations for findings, design new experiments, and identify potential weaknesses in current models/interpretations. Undergraduate students will be evaluated based on the performance on a) their participation in class (with respect to extent and quality of questions/comments), b) two take-home exams (short answer format), and c) a term paper (review-style, based on a selected course topic). As the course is based on reading primary literature, successful students will have developed a strong, deep foundation in the areas of development and neuroscience for continued medical studies and/or research in biomedical sciences.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to course format/content, primer in neural development and genetics Part I: Neural development: early events focussed at the cellular level 2. Neural Induction (distinguishing the neurogenic cell population from the non-neural ectoderm) 3. Asymmetric cell division and neurogenesis: specification of neurons from neural precursor populations) 4. Temporally-based specification of neural subtype identity 5. Spacially-based specification of neural subtype identity 6. Mechanisms of neuronal death and survival in development Part II: Connectivity, focussed on the cellular and systems levels 7. Establishing neuronal polarity (specification of axons and dendrites) 8. Axon guidance: the first step towards building connectivity 9. Generation of topographic maps in connectivity (based on the retinotectal system) 10. Mechanisms controlling formation and elimination of synapses during development 11. Molecular mechanisms controlling synapse specificity (fine-tuning connectivity) 12. Neural activity-based connectivity during hard-wired assembly of circuits 13. Developmental hard-wiring of complex innate behaviors.
Syllabus