Topic: Breaking symmetry in the brain from genes through circuits to behaviour
Subject: Developmental Genetics
Visiting Time: Jul 31, 2009

Abstract:

Dr. Steve is a professor of developmental genetics and the Vice-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Life Sciences at University College, London (UCL). UCL Fish Facility was established in 1998 and they have published 130 zebrafish papers since then, in Nature, Nature Genetics, Neuron, Current Biology, Developmental Biology, etc. Dr. Steve is the editor of the famous scientific journal development from 2006.

Although superficially symmetrical, the vertebrate brain exhibits many functional asymmetries. In this report we will discuss our progress in studying the signalling pathways that influence the generation of asymmetry and the subsequent laterality of the asymmetry of epithalamic nuclei. For instance, we find that asymmetries are largely absent in fgf8 mutants and that a key role for Fgf signalling is to mediate the migration of cells that contribute to a left-sided nucleus. We are also studying the lateralised projections and terminal morphologies of habenular neurons that convey information from the asymmetric epithalamic nuclei to the ventral midbrain, and the behavioural consequences of brain asymmetries.

Futher Informatiom: Steve Wilson...

Prof. Steve Wilson