A Biophysical Analysis of C. Elegans Thermotactic Behavior in Diverse Environments

不同环境中线虫趋热行为的生物物理分析

• 批准号: 0957185
• 负责人: Aravinthan D Samuel
• 金额: $ 36万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-10-01 至 2014-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0957185&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Biophysical; Analysis; C.; Elegans; Thermotactic

In this project the PI will develop new techniques to study worm thermotactic behavior in different types of environments with an approach that draws on technological innovation in both physics and biology. At the level of behavior, the PI will develop new assays to track the thermotactic movements of individual animals at high resolution for extended periods of time in two and three dimensions and at the level of neural circuits, the PI will develop an assay for optical recording of the activity of multiple neurons within the intact nervous system. The research program will provide a comprehensive and rigorous understanding of how a worm performs thermotaxis in different environments where it might have to swim, crawl, or burrow towards its preferred temperature. A better understanding of different modes of thermotactic behavior, along with improved methods for manipulating and monitoring neural activity, will provide new insights into how neural circuits give rise to sensory perception, information processing, and motor control during animal navigation. In addition the research program will promote training in the natural sciences through the awarding of undergraduate and graduate research assistantships. It will promote scientific education by integrating aspects of the program into course curricula at Harvard University that is aimed at introducing undergraduate and graduate students to current problems in biophysics and neuroscience. Outreach programs will provide summer internships in neuroscience research to high school students from a small rural community, and to undergraduates at historically black colleges and universities.

在这个项目中，PI将开发新技术来研究蠕虫在不同类型环境中的趋热行为，并采用物理学和生物学技术创新的方法。在行为水平，PI将开发新的测定方法，以高分辨率在二维和三维中长时间跟踪个体动物的趋热运动，在神经回路水平，PI将开发一种用于光学记录完整神经系统内多个神经元活动的测定方法。该研究计划将提供一个全面和严格的了解蠕虫如何在不同的环境中执行趋热性，它可能不得不游泳，爬行或挖洞到其首选的温度。更好地理解不同模式的趋热行为，沿着改进的方法来操纵和监测神经活动，将提供新的见解神经回路如何引起感官知觉，信息处理，和运动控制在动物导航。此外，该研究计划将通过授予本科生和研究生研究助学金来促进自然科学方面的培训。它将通过将该方案的各个方面纳入哈佛大学的课程来促进科学教育，该课程旨在向本科生和研究生介绍生物物理学和神经科学方面的当前问题。外展计划将为来自一个小农村社区的高中生和历史悠久的黑人学院和大学的本科生提供神经科学研究的暑期实习机会。