Biology: Neurodevelopment

Current topics in developmental neurobiology through lectures and discussions of primary literature. The course is designed for advanced undergraduate life science majors and graduate students in the biological sciences. Prerequisites: BCOR 2300, BCOR 2500.

Prereqs enforced by the system: BCOR 2300 and BCOR 2500 Catamount Core: N1. PACE students with permission and override

The aim of this course is to explore the fundamental mechanisms underlying neural development. Topics include patterning of the nervous system, birth and death of neurons, guidance of axons, target determination and innervation, synaptogenesis, sex differences, language and behavior. This course will emphasize the cellular and molecular basis of these events.

Learning Objectives: • Acquire foundational knowledge in developmental neurobiology emphasizing the cellular and molecular events that regulate formation of the nervous system; • Recognize the experimental design and tools used by neuroscientists to study the development of the nervous system; • Recognize the components of primary literature sections and the content in each; • Interpret primary literature based on knowledge acquired during the course

Exams: There will be three in-class exams and one cumulative final exam. The exams will focus on material presented in class along with the papers discussed and will be short answer/essay format. There will be no make-up exams without prior arrangement. Assignments: Papers focusing on key findings in developmental neuroscience will be assigned following each chapter in the textbook. Students will be assigned a specific section of the paper to focus on, fill out the assignment for that section, and post it on blackboard before lecture. After the class discussion, students will fill out the assignment for the rest of the paper and post it on Blackboard within 2 days. Research Paper: Graduate students will be required to write a research paper (10 pages max) in grant proposal format. The objective of the paper is to formulate a grant proposal on a topic in Developmental Neurobiology. The paper should include background and significance, specific aims, and experimental design and rationale. The research paper is due the last day of lecture.