516-306 Developmental Neurobiology

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Objectives:

By the end of the subject students should:

• comprehend the terminology of developmental neuroscience; the organisation, both molecular and cellular, of developing nervous tissue; the molecular and cellular events leading to the formation and early development of the vertebrate nervous system;

• develop an understanding of modern molecular approaches to questions concerning neural development; skills to critically analyse research papers in developmental neuroscience;

• appreciate the major questions currently being addressed in developmental neuroscience research; the extent and limitations of research in developmental neurobiology; the future direction of research concerned with understanding the development of the nervous system.

Content:

This subject will deal with topics ranging from the early events leading to the induction of neuroectoderm through to axogenesis and pathfinding. Emphasis will be placed on major developmental events such as phenotype commitment, cell migration, differentiation and growth cone guidance. Emphasis will be placed on modern molecular and cellular approaches to understanding these events.

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