CSHL Neurobiology of Drosophila Course

描述(申请人提供)：拟议的2.5周课程的主要目标是提供最先进的现代和新兴实验方法的培训，以研究主要的无脊椎动物模型系统--黑腹果蝇的神经系统。这门关于果蝇神经生物学：基因、电路和行为的课程旨在向学生介绍各种主题和技术，包括研究苍蝇神经系统发育、连通性和行为的最新方法。日常研究研讨会提供神经系统功能和行为的特定子领域的全面概述，或专注于研究苍蝇神经生物学不同方面的特定技术和方法。该课程充分利用苍蝇的遗传学作为分析神经发育、神经生理学和行为的实验系统。这门课程强调了这个强大的模型系统与促进我们对人脑的功能和功能障碍的理解的相关性。教师是根据他们对该领域的贡献和知识来选择的，每个教师都提供特定领域的深入专业知识，与其他教师相辅相成。 反过来，讲师邀请在各自领域做出重大贡献的讲师不要放弃关于当前研究的最新报告。学员是由课程教师从更大的申请者池中挑选出来的，范围从高级研究生到主要调查人员。由于课程时间短，高级和初级人员都可以参加，并在远离其他对他们的时间和注意力的要求的环境中接受短期、高强度的培训。这门神经生物学实验室课程也为科学家提供了一个不同寻常的机会，让他们快速掌握神经科学中的高级无脊椎动物模型，并将他们学到的概念和技术应用到自己的研究兴趣中。该课程特别努力纳入不同的参与者群体，特别注意纳入女性、美国少数族裔以及国内和国际科学家的良好平衡。 与公共健康相关：一百多年来，果蝇黑腹果蝇被证明是帮助科学家了解基因如何在动物身上发挥作用的强大工具。在过去的几十年里，快速繁殖和突变这些小Fli的能力被用来揭示苍蝇大脑的结构和功能。复杂的基因实验提供了大量信息，包括帮助构建大脑的重要基因和分子、构成大脑解剖结构的神经元回路和连接，以及在该解剖结构中编码的复杂行为。此外，该模型系统可以帮助我们了解当动物适应和学习新的环境时，这些分子、电路和行为是如何改变或影响的，神经元损伤和/或丢失是如何导致疾病的，以及接触到与环境扰动或成瘾有关的化学物质时，大脑功能是如何改变的。了解这些系统在果蝇中是如何工作的，对于我们阐明这些东西在高等动物中是如何发挥作用的努力具有巨大的相关性，结果包括我们如何看待神经疾病、大脑进化和人类研究的其他主要主题，包括酒精和药物滥用。拟议的短期课程旨在为高级学生和知名调查人员提供关于这一重要模式系统的密集和深入培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary objective of the proposed 2.5 week course is to provide state-of-the-art training in modern and emerging experimental approaches to study the nervous system of a major invertebrate model system, Drosophila melanogaster. The course on Drosophila Neurobiology: Genes, Circuits & Behavior is designed to introduce students to a wide variety of topics and techniques, including the latest approaches to study fly nervous system development, connectivity and behavior. Daily research seminars present comprehensive overviews of specific subfields of nervous system function and behavior, or focus on specific techniques and approaches to study diverse aspects of fly neurobiology. The course takes full advantage of the genetics of the fly as an experimental system for analyzing neural development, neuronal physiology and behavior. The course emphasizes the relevance of this powerful model system to advancing our understanding of the function and dysfunction of human brain. Instructors are chosen on the basis of their contributions to and knowledge of the field, each instructor providing in-depth expertise in a specific area that complements the others. In turn, the instructors invite lecturers who have made significant contributions in their fields t give up- to-the-minute reports on current research. The trainees are chosen by the course faculty from larger pools of applicants and range from advanced graduate students to principal investigators. Because of the short duration of the courses, senior as well as junior individuals can attend, and receive a short, intense period of training in an environment remote from other demands on their time and attention. This neurobiology laboratory course also provide an unusual opportunity for scientists to come up to speed in an advanced invertebrate model within neuroscience and to apply the concepts and techniques they learn to their own research interests. The course makes particular efforts to include a diverse group of participants, being particularly mindful of the inclusion of women, US minorities and a good balance of national and international scientists. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: For more than a hundred years, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has proved a powerful tool in helping scientists to understand how genetics works in animals. In the last couple of decades, the ability to rapidly breed and mutate these little flis has been used to shed light on the structure and function of the fly brain. Sophisticated genetic experiments have provided considerable information on the genes and molecules that are important in helping to build the brain, on the neuronal circuits and connectivity that form the brain's anatomy, and on the complex behaviors that are encoded within that anatomy. Furthermore, the model system can help us understand how these molecules, circuits and behaviors are altered or influenced as the animal adapts to and learns about new environments, how neuronal damage and/or loss leads to disease, and how brain function can be altered upon exposure to chemicals implicated in environmental perturbation or addiction. Understanding how these systems work in Drosophila has enormous relevance to our efforts to elucidate how these things function in higher animals, with consequences including how we think about neurological disease, brain evolution and other major themes of research in humans including alcohol and drug abuse. The proposed short course aims to provide intense and in-depth training in this important model system to advanced students and established investigators.