NSCI/BCSC 249: Lecture Schedule
Chapter readings are from Development of the Nervous System (eds. Sanes, D., Reh, T., and Harris, W.).
Only students who are enrolled in the course may access materials online. You must be logged into Blackboard to download these files.
Class
Date
Lecturer
Topic
Reading
01
01/22
MWS
Course overview & gene regulation
during neural development
Developmental Biology (Wolpert),
p.1-22, 295-303 [see Blackboard
for scan file]
02
01/27
MWS
Neural induction and regionalization
Sanes text, Chapter 1, p.1-17
03
01/29
MWS
Neural induction and regionalization
Sanes text, Chapter 2
04
02/03
MWS
Neurogenesis, migration &
differentiation in the nervous system I
Sanes text, Chapter 1, p.17-23
05
02/05
MWS
Neurogenesis, migration &
differentiation in the nervous system II
Sanes text, Chapter 3, p.58-71
06
02/10
MWS
Neurogenesis, migration &
differentiation in the nervous system
III
Sanes text, Chapter 4, p.72-81
07
02/12
MWS
Regulation of neurogenesis in primate
brain
Gage, Scientific American Sept
2003; p.47-53
08
02/17
MWS
Neurite outgrowth and pathfinding I
Sanes text, Chapter 5
09
02/19
MWS
Neurite outgrowth and pathfinding II
Sanes text, Chapter 5
02/24
EXAM I
10
02/26
MWS
Synapse formation
Sanes text, Chapter 8; mostly
p.225-238
11
03/03
MWS
Molecular cues underlying the
specificity of connections I
Sanes text, Chapter 6
12
03/05
MWS
Molecular cues underlying the
specificity of connections II
Sanes text, Chapter 6
03/10
NO LECTURE--
SPRING BREAK
03/12
NO LECTURE--
SPRING BREAK
13
03/17
Majewska
The role of microglia during
synaptogenesis in the visual system
Sanes text, Chapter 9
14
03/19
MWS
Early experience and synaptic
rearrangement I
Sanes text, Chapter 9
15
03/24
Johnson
Mechanisms of cell death and trophic
factor action
Sanes text, Chapter 7
16
03/26
MWS
Early experience and synaptic
rearrangement II
Sanes text, Chapter 9
17
03/31
MWS
Programmed cell death in the nervous
system
Sanes text, Chapter 7; optional:
Wilhelm & Guizzetti 2016 review
Wilhelm & Guizzetti 2016 review
18
04/02
EXAM II
19
04/07
MWS
Cellular mechanisms of learning &
memory I
Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed
(Kandel); Chapter 63
20
04/09
MWS
Cellular mechanisms of learning &
memory II/III
Fundamental Neuroscience
(Squire, Berg, Bloom, du Lac,
Ghosh, & Spitzer); p.559-562
optional: Quirk 2010 J Neurosci
optional: Quirk 2010 J Neurosci
20
04/14
MWS
Models of early learning: vocal learning
in songbirds I
Sanes text Chap. 10, p.321-324
21
04/16
MWS
Hormonal influences on neural and
behavioral development
Sanes text, Chapter 7, p.186-188;
Chapter 10, p.308-313; [optional:
Buss et al, PNAS 2012; E1312-19]
22
04/21
Portman
Genetic sex regulation of neural and
behavioral development
Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed
(Kandel); Chap. 57
23
04/23
MWS
Alzheimer's disease genes and their
functions in brain development/inclass oral presentations
Duggan & McCarthy, Cellular
Signalling 28 (2016) 1–11
24
04/28
Students
In-class oral presentations: neural
development and disease
n/a
25
04/30
EXAM III
26
05/07
Students
Oral presentations: neural
development, injury and/or disease
n/a
27
05/09
Students
Oral presentations: neural
development, injury and/or disease
n/a
5/2/25 F: LAST DAY OF CLASSES
5/3/25 Sa– 5/4/25 Su: READING PERIOD
WEEK OF 5/6/25 -5/11/25: FINAL EXAM WEEK