Neurogliomics: A novel analysis of the Evolution of the Neuron/Glia Partnership.
Summary
This multi-week laboratory module combines cell structural and genomic analyses to explore the partnership between and neurons and glial cells in the evolution of the nervous system. Students will focus on benchmark organisms, e.g. Cnidarian (nerve nets), C. elegans and Drosophila (invertebrates) and rats/mice (vertebrate examples). The novel aspect of the lab project is a comparison of glial genes across these taxa.
Learning Goals
- To use comparative analyses to understand evolution of the nervous system.
- Explore the relationship between neuron/glia ratio and nervous system organization.
- Learn to use a combination of genomics and protein localization tools, as well as literature searches to try to understand the relationship between neurons and glial across evolution.
- They will also design and test hypothesis about about glial diversity and putative marker genes.
- They will learn to appreciate the limitations of analysis of single genes in determining evolutionary relationships.
Context for Use
Part of an upper level elective for neuroscience.
Module - 3-4 weeks
Module - 3-4 weeks
Description and Teaching Materials
Anatomy to understand glia and neurons with GFP labeled c.elegans or ICC for GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein - labels intermediate filaments in astrocytes) in mice or rat
Do a protein and a nucleotide BLAST for GFAP in a variety of species: cnidaria, c. elegans drosophila and mice.
reflection
Have the students search the literature for other markers in vertebrates and invertebtates (subdivide the class)
Independently BLAST as before for their own marker
reflection
Poster including both micrographs and BLAST data.
Do a protein and a nucleotide BLAST for GFAP in a variety of species: cnidaria, c. elegans drosophila and mice.
reflection
Have the students search the literature for other markers in vertebrates and invertebtates (subdivide the class)
Independently BLAST as before for their own marker
reflection
Poster including both micrographs and BLAST data.
