Research Shows New Learning Mechanism for Individual Nerve Cells
The traditional view is that learning is based on the weakening or strengthening of the contacts between the nerve cells inside the brain.
The traditional view is that learning is based on the weakening or strengthening of the contacts between the nerve cells inside the brain.
‘A new approach for genetically identifying and manipulating the different neuronal cell types in a mouse brain has been reported by Brandeis scientists.’
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Cells in the brain have different functions and therefore express different genes. Important instructions for which genes to express, in which cell types, lie not only in the genes themselves, but in small pieces of DNA called enhancers found in the large spaces between genes. The Brandeis group has found a way to highjack these instructions to express other artificial genes in particular cell types in the mouse brain. Some of these artificially expressed genes (also called transgenes) simply make the cells fluorescent so they can be seen under the microscope.
Other transgenes are master regulators that can be used to turn on or off any other gene of interest. This will allow scientists to activate or deactivate the cells to see how they alter behavior, or to study the function of specific genes by altering them only in some cell types without altering them everywhere in the body.
Graphene Shown to Safely Interact With Nerve Cells in the Brain
Researchers have successfully demonstrated how it is possible to interface graphene - a two-dimensional form of carbon - with neurons, or nerve cells.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated how it is possible to interface graphene - a two-dimensional form of carbon - with neurons, or nerve cells.
Source-Eurekalert
Aggression Causes Production of New Nerve Cells in the Brain
A series of experiments on male mice have experimentally proven that aggression has an influence on the production of new nerve cells in the brain.
A series of experiments on male mice have experimentally proven that aggression has an influence on the production of new nerve cells in the brain.
The Nerve Cells That Make Locusts 'Gang Up'
Biologists has identified a set of nerve cells in desert locusts that bring about 'gang-like' gregarious behaviour when they are forced into a crowd.
Biologists has identified a set of nerve cells in desert locusts that bring about 'gang-like' gregarious behaviour when they are forced into a crowd.
