A Deep Dive into the Cell and Molecular Biology of the Brain

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course will be an interactive analysis of the cell biology of neurons and glia. Central questions include how do the unique morphologies of neurons and glia shape their cell biology and how do we use different techniques to examine these cells. Other topics include: structure and function of neuronal proteins, membrane excitability, the functions of different glia types, and signaling pathways in synapse formation and development. The course will span three weeks at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Mornings will consist of lectures and critical reading/discussion of the primary literature. In the afternoon, students will perform hands-on experiments on different lab projects that put into practice the concepts and techniques discussed in class.