NEUR1640: BEHAVIORAL NEUROGENETICS LABORATORY

Recent advances in molecular biology and molecular genetics have allowed researchers to test specific hypotheses concerning the genetic control of behavior and neurological disease.  NEUR1640 is a course based laboratory experience (CURE) that familiarizes students with the relatively new and exciting field of neurogenetics, and provides hands-on experience in developing and conducting behavioral neurogenetic experiments using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In this course students work in groups to perform original behavioral neurogenetics research using Drosophila. Students learn how to understand the primary literature, gain expertise in the design and implementation of basic fly genetics, behavioral testing and analysis of tracking data, and the preparation of research reports associated with laboratory work. Throughout the course we discuss the appropriateness, use, and limitations of animal models and human models for studying pathology, run real experiments with live animals, and collect, analyze, interpret, and write up results associated with those experiments, and present data at the end of the term in creative ways.