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SUMMARY:The wiring diagram of the CNS of Drosophila larva: structure and f
 unction - Albert Cardona\, HHMI
DTSTART:20140612T100000Z
DTEND:20140612T110000Z
UID:TALK52942@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Scientific Meetings Co-ordinator
DESCRIPTION:Complete wiring diagrams of whole nervous systems will transfo
 rm neuroscience research. In my lab we aim at obtaining wiring diagrams to
  generate experimentally testable hypotheses of neural circuit function. A
 t about 150\,000 neurons\, the wiring diagram of the Drosophila adult fly 
 is beyond reach of current technology. Within the fly model\, though\, the
 re is second animal: the larva. With only 10\,000 neurons\, of which about
  9600 are identified\, stereotyped neurons\, and a central nervous system 
 (CNS) that measures\, at its smallest\, less than 300 μm in length\, the 
 larva is an approachable nervous system that embodies the bauplan of the i
 nsect brain\, with the complete genetic toolkit of the fly. High-throughpu
 t behavioral analysis\, electrophysiology and calcium imaging are well-est
 ablished techniques in the larva. Our collaborative web-based approach tow
 ards neural circuit reconstruction from large-scale electron microscopy ha
 s yielded a draft of 20% of the wiring diagram within the last 18 months. 
 In the context of known circuitry\, we are currently studying the function
  of first-order sensory circuits with normalization motifs across space an
 d modalities\, as well as multi-level multi-modal integration pathways tha
 t enhance behavioral choice. 
LOCATION:MRC LMB: Sanger Seminar Room 3A180
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