Developmental Neurobiology (HCS-6336) - Fall Semester 2003
Instructor: Dr. Michael P. Kilgard
Office: Green 4.504
Office Hours: Thursday
Office Phone: (972) 883-2339
E-mail Address: kilgard@utdallas.edu
Meeting time: Thursday 11:00am-1:45pm
Meeting place: JO 3.534
Required Texts:
Principles of Development by Lewis Wolpert
Principles of Neural Science by Kandel, Schwartz
& Jessell
Both should be available at Off-Campus Books (
Course Description
This course will cover the major issues of neural development. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular and cellular events underlying cell differentiation, axon guidance, synapse formation, neurotrophic factors, and neural death will be discussed. The last third of the course will focus on activity-dependent plasticity and its role in generating and maintaining the extraordinary precision of connections found in the nervous system. Pathologies arising from failures of these processes will be discussed.
Objectives
This course has three primary objectives: (1) to introduce students to the major issues of developmental neuroscience; (2) to familiarize participants with the range of research methods brought to bear on these varied and interrelated investigations; (3) and to encourage the development of the skills required for meaningful appreciation of the historical context and logical rationale of experiments presented in primary research articles.
Assessment
Exams (80%): There will be one midterm (35%) and a final (45%). Material for these exams will be taken from class lectures and discussion, so attendance is strongly encouraged. Supplemental material not available in the text will be presented in class. The format of the exam questions is designed to be challenging and to encourage integrative thought about the material; matching, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and multiple-choice questions will be used. Reading the assignments prior to each class is advisable, expected, and required. Class discussion is strongly encouraged. Questions will be taken from material presented during student presentations (see below). No prior background in cell biology or biochemistry is assumed, however familiarity with these issues would be very helpful. Interactive discussion is intended to broaden everyone's understanding of the complex material covered. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Search&db=PubMed&term=neural+development[title+abstract]+AND+Nature[journal]
Oral presentations (20%): All students will make an oral presentation of an original research article published in the neuroscience literature within the last decade from one of the following journals: Science, Nature, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience or PNAS . Presentations will be 10-15 minutes in length, with up to 5 minutes allowed for follow-up questions and further discussion. Each presentation should include: 1. statement of the background for the paper; 2. statement of the research question(s); 3. presentation of research methods used; 4. presentation of research findings; and 5. take-home message, including three potential exam questions. Presenters must have photocopies for every member of the class one meeting before the presentation.
Final Grade - A: 100-90, B: 89-80, C: 79-70, Less than 70% is failing.
Course Schedule
Part I: Introduction to Developmental Neuroscience (8/21)
a) Brief History of Developmental Neuroscience
i)
Wolpert Ch1
b) Model Systems
i)
Wolpert Ch2
Part II: Introduction to Genes (8/28)
a) Transcription and Translation
b) Regulation of Gene Expression
Part III: Mechanisms Required to Generate Gross Anatomy
a) Patterning the Vertebrate Body Plan I: Axes and Germ
Layers (9/4)
i) Wolpert
b) Patterning the Vertebrate Body Plan II: The Mesoderm and
Early Nervous System
i) Wolpert
c) Development of the Drosophila Body Plan (9/11)
i) Wolpert
[No Class on 9/18]
d) Morphogenesis: Change in Form
in the Early Embryo (9/25)
i) Wolpert Ch. 8
ii) Kandell
Ch52
e) Cell Differentiation
i) Wolpert Ch. 9
ii) Oral
Presentations
f) Specification of Neural Fate (10/2)
i) Wolpert Ch10-18 through 10-22
ii) Wolpert
Ch11-1 through 11-7
iii) Kandell
Ch53 (p1041-1052)
Midterm (10/9)
Part IV: Mechanisms Required to Generate Fine Connectivity
b)Axon guidance
(10/16)
i) Wolpert Ch11-8 through 11-12
ii) Kandell
Ch54
c) Cell Death and Survival (10/23)
i) Wolpert Ch11-13 through 11-17
ii) Kandell
Ch53 (p1052-1061)
d) Sexual
Differentiation of the Nervous System
i) Kandell Ch57
e) Oral
Presentations (10/30)
f) Review
Part III: Precise Tuning of
Synaptic Connections
a)
Activity-dependent synaptic competition (11/6)
i) Kandell Ch56
b) Synaptic
plasticity
i) Kandell Ch63
c) Spike-timing
Dependent Plasticity (11/13)
i) Nature 1998 Sep 3;395(6697):37-44. A
critical window for cooperation and competition among developing retinotectal synapses.
e) Plasticity in
the Adult Nervous System
h) Oral Presentations (11/20)
i)
Review
FINAL EXAM - Monday 12/