The sheer number and diversity of neurons present in our adult brains is staggering. Understanding how this cellular diversity is generated and organized in such a way that allows adult animals to feel and think is of fundamental importance. We will investigate how neuronal diversity is generated by investigating mechanisms that regulate proliferation of the neural stem cell population, which are the progenitors of all neurons. We will use Drosophila as a model system and the Drosophila neuroblast as the neural stem cell type.

The course will start with a series of lectures and student run journal clubs. We will review current knowledge of molecular mechanisms that regulate neuroblast entry and exit from the cell cycle and will focus on the role that nutrition has in regulating stem cell proliferation. Together as a class we will discuss current models of nutrient-regulated stem cell proliferation and will discuss alternatives. We will generate hypotheses and design and carry out experiments to test our hypotheses. This class is project based and students will work in groups and must be organized and able to coordinate work load with other group members. Students will learn and practice the following techniques which will be necessary to carry out all proposed experiments including, basic Drosophila husbandry, tissue dissections and specimen preparation, immunofluorescence, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and image analysis. Students will interpret results from their experiments, draw conclusions, and present their research projects at a poster session at the end of the semester.