Description
Content:
The nervous system is the most complex system in the entire body. CELL0003 explores how this complex organization of hundreds of cells emerges during embryo development. The module focuses on the precise organization of tissues that arises during embryo development by the coordinated control of the differentiation, migration, proliferation and death of cells. It will provide a solid grounding for future specialised study of nervous system development, function and repair.
Lectures will be given by leading UCL researchers and will provide detailed descriptions of selected key processes involved in neural development, function and repair. They will explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate these processes, drawing on examples from both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. The focus will be on recent work that has not been published in text books. You will be required to read to research papers and encouraged to develop a critical awareness of the experimental evidence that has contributed to current understanding of those aspects of neural development and the underlying molecular mechanisms covered in the lecture programme.
The module requires a strong background in neuroscience and developmental biology. It is suitable for students in Biosciences based BSc, MSci, iBSc and MSc programmes, and Natural Sciences students, and may be taken by affiliate students with appropriate academic backgrounds.
Indicative lecture topics (based on a typical year's syllabus):
- Neural Induction
- Neural crest development
- Schwan cell development
- Hindbrain patterning
- Neurogenesis in C. elegans
- Patterning the CNS
- Drosophila neurogenesis.
Module Organizers: Dr Gaia Gestri (g.gestri@ucl.ac.uk) and Prof. Stephen Price (stephen.price@ucl.ac.uk).
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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