Specification of V0v interneurons in the zebrafish spinal cord

为了了解中枢神经系统是如何组成和发挥功能的，我们必须首先研究不同的神经细胞是如何在发育中的胚胎中形成的，并被指示连接到功能回路中。脊髓是研究这些过程的强大系统，因为它比大脑更简单，更容易实验处理。这项研究将使用新产生的试剂和实验方法来确定指示细胞生长到特定脊髓神经细胞群体的关键调控基因。这些神经细胞被称为V0v细胞，它们是调节运动的电路的一部分。该项目将使用遗传和分子方法来回答这个问题。该项目的结果将具有广泛的相关性，因为这种类型的神经细胞存在于所有脊椎动物中，所发现的机制和基因很可能在其他神经细胞中发挥类似的作用。这个项目将显著增加我们对基本生物学过程的理解，例如基因如何指导细胞成长为特定类型的细胞，以及特定基因在构建神经元电路中的作用。首席调查员将把这项研究纳入她的大学教学和向公众介绍。这项研究还将有助于科学工作者的多样化。妇女和任职人数不足的少数群体都将积极参与该项目。首席调查员还将继续向当地城市高中开展外联活动，并为9/10年级和高中生编写教学单元。这些活动旨在显著影响传统上服务不足的锡拉丘兹高中生的生活(所有这些学校都被纽约州认定为成绩持续低下)，并鼓励代表人数较少的少数族裔高中生对科学和研究充满热情。

To understand how the central nervous system is made and functions, we must first investigate how different nerve cells are made in growing embryos and instructed to connect up into functional circuits. The spinal cord is a powerful system for studying these processes as it is simpler and more experimentally-tractable than the brain. This study will use newly-generated reagents and experimental approaches to identify the key regulatory genes that instruct cells to grow into a particular population of spinal cord nerve cells. These nerve cells are called V0v cells and they are part of the circuitry that regulates locomotion. The project will use genetic and molecular approaches to answer this question. The outcomes of this project will be widely relevant, as this type of nerve cell exists in all vertebrates and the mechanisms and genes identified are likely to play similar roles in other nerve cells. This project will significantly increase our understanding of fundamental biological processes such as how genes instruct cells to grow into particular types of cells and the roles of specific genes in the construction of neuronal circuitry. The Principal Investigator will incorporate this research into her university teaching and presentations to the general public. This research will also contribute to the diversification of the scientific workforce. Both women and under-represented minorities will actively participate in the project. The Principal Investigator will also continue to perform outreach to local city high schools and to develop teaching modules for both 9th/10th grade and advanced placement high school students. These activities aim to significantly impact the lives of traditionally under-served Syracuse high school students (all of these schools have been identified as Persistently Low Achieving by New York State) and enthuse under represented minority high school students about science and research.