COLLAB: From Structure to Information in Mechanosensory Systems. The role of Sensor Morphology in Detecting Fluid Signals.

协作：从机械感觉系统的结构到信息。

• 批准号: 0718832
• 负责人: David Fields
• 金额: $ 32.25万
• 依托单位: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0718832&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: COLLAB; Structure; Information; Mechanosensory; Systems.

Copepods present a spectacular diversity of antennule and setal morphologies, orientations and degree of ornamentation. The causes and consequences of this diversity remain unexplored, but the staggering degree of morphological variation suggests structure-function relationships between mechanosensor properties and their sensory roles. Using copepods as a model system, this work will address the relationship between the shape of mechanosensory structures and their movement under non steady-state fluid conditions. The goal of this project is to quantify the relationship between fluid motion and sensory morphology. Scanning electron microscopic measurements of the size and width of different setae and transmission electron microscopic measurements of cuticular thickness and the extent of the dendritic penetration up the shaft of individual mechanoreceptors will be made for three species of copepods. The force required to bend the seta and the physiological response of individual hairs to the well described flows created in the lab will be quantified with respect to the physical characteristics of the receptor. The empirical data will be used to build two interacting models: Finite Element Method (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The FEM will be used to model the motion of individual seta with known morphology and bending characteristics while the CFD will be used to calculate the hydrodynamic force and torque applied to each region of the seta and the influence of the seta on the surrounding flow. These data are fundamental to understanding how these small, neurologically simple organisms can distinguish from the myriad of biologically and physically induced fluid movements. The project includes several self-contained sub-projects that will provide exceptional opportunities for motivated undergraduate students to receive hands-on research experience learning sophisticated culturing techniques, the fundamentals of optics, microvideography, neurophysiology and the power of numerical simulations. High school students will also be invited into the lab to maintain cultures and help the undergraduate students with their projects. The PI will also work with the COSEE program (designed to bring ocean science to rural areas) and the ''Keller Bloom'' project which provides a week long science immersion course to gifted high school students from rural Maine. Results of the project will also contribute to the development of other BLOS educational and outreach programs, most notably the Phytopia project http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia/) and a weekly summer seminar series open to the public.

Copepods呈现出触角和固定形态，方向和装饰程度的壮观多样性。这种多样性的原因和后果仍未开发，但是形态变化的惊人程度表明机械传感器特性及其感觉角色之间的结构 - 功能之间的关系。使用copepods作为模型系统，这项工作将解决机械感觉结构的形状与其在非稳态流体条件下运动之间的关系。该项目的目的是量化流体运动与感觉形态之间的关系。扫描电子显微镜测量值和透射电子显微镜测量表皮厚度的大小和宽度，以及在单个机械感受器的轴上的树突渗透范围以及三种copepods的单个机械感受器的轴。 弯曲SETA所需的力以及单个头发对实验室中所描述的流量的生理反应，将根据受体的物理特征进行量化。 经验数据将用于构建两个相互作用的模型：有限元方法（FEM）和计算流体动力学（CFD）。 FEM将使用已知形态和弯曲特性来对单个SETA的运动进行建模，而CFD将用于计算施加到setA区域的每个区域的流体动力和扭矩以及seta对周围流动的影响。这些数据是了解这些小小的神经学简单生物如何与无数生物学和物理诱导的流体运动区分开的基础。该项目包括几个独立的子项目，将为有动力的本科生提供精力的研究经验，以学习精致的培养技术，光学的基础，微电位学，神经生理学和数值模拟的力量。 还将邀请高中生进入实验室，以维持文化并帮助本科生进行项目。 PI还将与Cosee计划（旨在将海洋科学带到农村地区）和“ Keller Bloom”项目合作，该项目为来自缅因州农村的有天赋的高中生提供了一周的科学沉浸课程。该项目的结果还将有助于其他BLOS教育和外展计划的发展，最值得注意的是植物植物项目http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia/）和每周向公众开放的夏季研讨会系列。