NSCI 320: Topics in Developmental Neurobiology
Fall Term, 2017
Tuesdays and Thursdays in HSRF 300 or Given C447 | 2:45-4:00pm
Course Co-Directors: Dr. Cynthia Forehand, PhD & Dr. Diane M. Jaworski, PhD
This is an advanced level course for graduate students, and senior Neuroscience majors, with a background in fundamental Neuroscience. The aim of the course is to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural development. Foundational learning will be achieved by reading the required textbook Development of the Nervous System (3rd edition, 2012) by DH Sanes, TA Reh and WA Harris (Elsevier ISBM 978-0-12-374539-2) or instructor provided review articles prior to group discussion combined with didactic lectures. Students will then apply their knowledge and hone their oral communication skills during a journal club style presentation of a primary research article. Students will also hone their writing communication skills by writing a News & Views style summary of a primary research article of a neurodevelopmental disorder.
| Date | Title | Lecturer |
|---|
| Aug. 29 | Course Intro & Development | Jaworski |
| Aug. 31 | Neural "Induction" - Proneural Genes Chapter 1 | Forehand |
| Sept. 5 | Polarity and Segmentation Chapter 2 | Forehand |
Sept. 7 | Neurogenesis Chapter 3 | Jaworski |
Sept. 12
| Migration | Jaworski |
| Sept. 14 | Article: TBD | Forehand |
| Sept. 17 | Discussion | |
| Sept. 19 | Determination & Differentiation Chapter 4 | Jaworski |
| Sept. 21 | Glial Development | Jaworski |
| Sept. 26 | Axon Growth and Guidance Chapter 5 | Forehand |
| Sept. 28 | Article: TBD | Jaworski |
| Oct. 3 | Target Selection Chapter 6 | Forehand |
| Oct. 5 | Neuronal Tiling | Forehand |
| Oct. 10 | Myelination | Jaworski |
| Oct. 12 | Article: Science (2017) 356: 406-11 & 11-14 | Forehand |
| Oct. 17 | Naturally-occurring Neuron Death Chapter 7 | Jaworski |
| Oct. 19 | Synaptogenesis Chapter 8 | Jaworski |
| Oct. 24 | Refinement of Synaptic Connections Chapter 9 | Jaworski |
| Oct. 26 | Article: TBD | Jaworski |
| Oct. 31 | Growth Factors | Forehand |
| Nov. 2 | Activity-dependent Plasticity | Jaworski |
| Nov. 7 | Environment & Epigenetics | Jaworski |
| Nov. 9 | Article: TBD | Jaworski |
| Nov. 14 | News & Views preparation - NO CLASS | No Class |
| Nov. 16 | Behavioral Development Chapter 10 | Forehand |
| Nov. 21-24 | Thanksgiving Break | No Class |
| Nov. 28 | Maltreatment and Ecophenotype | Forehand |
| Nov. 30 | | |
| Dec. 5 | Article: TBD | |
| Dec. 7 | Additional Student Presentation or Topic | |
| Dec 12 | Final Exam HSRF 300 | 1:30-4:30pm | |