MCA: Functional genomics of spatial memory

空间记忆是一种特殊形式的习得性导航，具有大而复杂的大脑的动物的特征。“大脑的GPS”的潜在神经回路已经确定，但我们缺乏这种能力如何演变的完整图景。绿黑相间的毒蛙是已知的唯一能够空间记忆的两栖动物，通过比较记忆能力不同的物种，创造了一个独特的机会来识别使空间记忆进化的基因。为此，该奖项将允许研究人员开发他们将用来发现毒蛙空间记忆遗传机制的技能。通过比较物种，他们将确定赋予形成空间记忆能力的基因。此外，研究人员将与北卡罗来纳州达勒姆的生命与科学博物馆合作，扩大对科学的参与，提高公众对科学的认识。博物馆和研究人员将共同为博物馆参观者举办基于拟议研究的互动会议，并创建一个解释性小组来配合博物馆的毒蛙展览，突出毒蛙的认知能力，并深入了解潜在的研究过程。尽管在过去25年里，人们密切关注基因组学，但我们仍然缺乏根据生物的基因组和环境知识来预测其表型的能力。该奖项将为研究人员提供一套基因组学工具，他们将使用该工具来创建空间记忆功能基因组学的模型。通过将基因组学整合到她的研究中，这位研究人员将利用关于毒蛙认知的已知知识，创建一个复杂认知特征的功能基因组学模型。为此，研究人员将与洛克菲勒大学的埃里希·贾维斯博士合作，在三个领域获得基本技能：1)非模式生物基因组的测序和注释；2)识别由特定经验激活的基因网络；3)比较跨物种的基因网络。研究人员将利用这些技术来生产高质量的带注释的金鱼基因组，鉴定金鱼海马体中表达的与记忆相关的基因网络，并测试空间生态学和跨物种的空间记忆相关基因网络之间的联系。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Spatial memory is a specialized form of learned navigation characteristic of animals with large, complex brains. The underlying neural circuitry for the “brain’s GPS” has been identified but we lack a complete picture of how this ability evolves. The green-and-black poison frog is the only amphibian known to be capable of spatial memory, creating a unique opportunity to identify genes that enable the evolution of spatial memory by comparing species that vary in memory abilities. To this end, this award will allow the investigator to develop skills that they will use to discover the genetic mechanisms of spatial memory in poison frogs. By comparing species, they will determine the genes that confer the capacity to form spatial memories. In addition, the investigator will partner with the Museum of Life and Science in Durham NC to broaden participation in science and to increase public awareness of science. Together, the Museum and the investigator will host interactive sessions for museum visitors based on the proposed research and create an interpretive panel to accompany the Museum's Poison Frog Exhibit that highlights the cognitive abilities of poison frogs and gives insight into the underlying research process.Despite an intense focus on genomics over the last 25 years, we still lack the ability to predict an organism's phenotype from knowledge of its genome and environment. This award will provide the investigator with a toolset in genomics that they will use to create a model for the functional genomics of spatial memory. By integrating genomics into her research, the investigator will leverage what is known about poison frog cognition to create a model for functional genomics of a complex cognitive trait. To do so, the investigator will partner with Dr. Erich Jarvis at Rockefeller University to acquire foundational skills in three areas: 1) sequencing and annotation of genomes of non-model organisms; 2) identifying gene networks activated by specific experiences; and 3) comparing gene networks across species. The investigator will use these skills to produce a high-quality, annotated genome of Dendrobates auratus, identify memory-associated gene networks expressed in the hippocampus of D. auratus, and test the link between spatial ecology and spatial memory-associated gene networks across species.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.