NEURL-UA 305 (Undergraduate course ID)
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Development &
Dysfunction of the Nervous System |
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SPRING 2012 |
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(revised 24 January 2012) |
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Faculty |
Adjunct
Instructor |
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Dan Sanes |
Emma Sarro |
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1009 Meyer |
1007 Meyer |
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998-3924 |
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Office hours: after class or by appointment |
Office hours: after class or by appointment |
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Schedule |
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LECTURES |
Tuesday & Thursday |
RECITATION |
Wednesday |
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12:30 - 1:45 PM |
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12:30
- 1:45 PM |
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Meyer 815 |
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Meyer 815 |
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Reading |
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Assigned: |
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(1) Development of the
Nervous System, Second Edition (Academic Press, 2012) |
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DH Sanes, TA Reh, WA Harris |
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(2) PDF files of primary
research and review articles will be available on Blackboard |
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Supplemental: |
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(1) Developmental Biology,
Ninth Edition (2010) Sinauer Associates,
Gilbert SF |
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(2) Neurobiology of
Disease (2007) Elsevier Academic Press, Gilman S |
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(3) Diseases of the
Nervous System in Childhood (1992) Mac Keith Press, Aicardi
A |
Attendance
LECTURES: The lectures are compulsory. If you miss more than one
class without a legitimate excuse, then the highest grade that you can obtain
is a ÒB.Ó
RECITATION: The recitation sections will serve two purposes.
First, contemporary research articles will be presented - both by the
instructor and by the students - and discussed. Second, some sessions will be
set aside to obtain advice and direction on the term paper topic and the final
oral presentation.
MIDTERM: There will be one midterm exam.
PRESENTATIONS: Final Student Presentations, based on the Term
Paper will be delivered in class during the interval April 26 to May 8.
Midterm
Exam
There will be one take-home midterm exam covering the lectures and
readings through 1 March (ÒNaturally
Occurring Neuron Cell DeathÒ will be on the exam). The exam will be
available for download from Blackboard on Thursday, 1 March, after class. You
will have 4 days to complete the exam; it must be returned to Emma and me, via
email, by 5:00 p.m. on Monday,
March 5.
Term
Paper
The purpose of the term paper and in-class presentation is to
learn how to read and evaluate primary research articles. The Term paper will
critically evaluate 5-6 primary research articles in one area of neural
disorders, and will conclude with a proposed experiment.
Topic
Each student will propose a topic with 5-6 primary research
references for approval by February 8. Once the topic is approved, each student will
prepare an outline of the term paper for submission on February 22. The first paragraph of the
term paper is due for pre-review on March 21, and the final paper is due on April 11.
Term paper format
In the first ½ page, briefly
introduce the disorder, and describe an area of basic research that is
associated with it. Address whether or not the selected primary research
articles lead to a cohesive theory that explains the neural pathology.
In pages 2-4, describe the specific
experiments, results, and conclusions. This section should include a comparison
of the findings from each paper. Relate these findings to basic research in
developmental neurobiology covered in the lectures and the assigned reading.
In the final page, describe an open question
about the disorder and propose a basic research study that could address the
problem.
Length
Double spaced, 12 pt font, 1" margins
5 (±1/2)
pages of text, plus a bibliography
Figures are optional; they are placed at the end and do not count
towards the length
Submission
The papers are submitted electronically via email using RTF file format only (no doc, docx, or pdf)
Term
Presentation
Each student will deliver a
presentation based upon the term paper topic. The presentation should be in
PowerPoint format (or something similar), and it must not exceed 15 mins; there will be a brief question period after each
talk. I strongly encourage you to practice the talk in advance so that you
remain within the time limit. A preliminary PPT must be submitted on April 18
for pre-review. The final presentation times will be scheduled during the week
of April 26 - May 8.
Summary
of Important Due Dates:
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Feb 8 |
Term paper topic & references due |
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Feb 22 |
Term paper outline due |
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Mar 1 |
Midterm exam on Blackboard |
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Mar 5 |
Midterm due: return via email by 5:00
p.m. |
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Mar 21 |
First paragraph of term paper due |
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April 11 |
Term paper due |
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April 18 |
Preliminary PPT due for comment |
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Apr 26 to May 8 |
Student Presentations |
Grading
The final grade for the course will be determined from your
performance on the midterm exam (25%), the term paper (45%), an oral
presentation of your term paper topic (15%), and participation in recitation
(15%). Oral participation during the lectures is strongly encouraged
and those who play an active role throughout the semester will get an increase
of 0.3 on their final grade (on the 0-4 scale). Extra credit assignments are not
available. Extensions are granted for documented health issues or personal
emergencies.
Schedule of Lectures & Recitations
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DATE |
TOPIC |
READINGS |
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Jan 24 |
Early Development
of the CNS: Induction & Polarity |
Ch 1: pgs 1-15 & 17-21 Ch 2: pgs 23-32 |
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Jan 25 |
RECITATION ÒJournal ClubÓ (Dr. Emma Sarro will
present a basic research article that employs and experimental model of a
developmental disorder) |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Jan 26 |
Early Development of
the CNS: Birth & Migration |
Ch 3: pgs 49-64 & Box: Neural crest cells |
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Jan 31 |
Fetal alcohol
syndrome |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 1 |
RECITATION Discussion and help with choosing a topic for your term paper
and presentation (Submit a tentative topic) |
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Feb 2 |
Fetal alcohol
syndrome |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 7 |
Growth Cones & Pathfinding |
Chapter 5 |
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Feb 8 |
RECITATION ÒJournal ClubÓ (Dr. Emma Sarro will
present a basic research article that employs and experimental model of a
developmental disorder) ** Term paper topic & 5 references due ** |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 9 |
Growth Cones & Pathfinding |
Chapter 5 |
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Feb 14 |
Traumatic Brain
Injury & Axonal Regeneration |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 15 |
RECITATION Feedback on Term Paper topics & advice on writing the
Outline |
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Feb 16 |
Traumatic Brain
Injury & Axonal Regeneration |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 21 |
Target Recognition
& Topographic Maps |
Chapter 6 |
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Feb 22 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 1 ** Term paper outline due ** |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Feb 23 |
Target Recognition
& Topographic Maps |
Chapter 6 |
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Feb 28 |
Naturally Occurring
Neuron Cell Death |
Chapter 7 |
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Feb 29 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 2 |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 1 |
Naturally Occurring
Neuron Cell Death ** Midterm Exam available on Blackboard ** ** Return via email by 5:00pm on March 5 ** |
Chapter 7 |
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Mar 6 |
Cerebral Palsy |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 7 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 3 |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 8 |
Cerebral Palsy |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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(SPRING BREAK -
March 10-18) |
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Mar
20 |
Synapse Formation
& Plasticity |
Chapters 8-9 |
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Mar 21 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 4 ** First paragraph of term paper due ** |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 22 |
Synapse Formation
& Plasticity |
Chapters 8-9 |
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Mar 27 |
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 28 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 5 |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Mar 29 |
Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 3 |
Schizophrenia |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 4 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 6 |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 5 |
Schizophrenia |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 10 |
Fragile X &
Mental Retardation |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 11 |
RECITATION Turning your Term Paper into a presentation ** Term paper due ** |
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Apr 12 |
Fragile X &
Mental Retardation |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 17 |
Autism &
Williams Syndrome |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 18 |
RECITATION Student-led Journal Club 7 ** Preliminary PPT due ** |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 19 |
Autism &
Williams Syndrome |
PDF files (Blackboard) |
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Apr 24 |
Sensory Development
& Deprivation (e.g., Hearing Loss) |
Chapter 10 & PDF files |
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Apr 25 |
Sensory Development
& Deprivation (e.g., Hearing Loss) |
Chapter 10 & PDF files |
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Apr 26 |
Student Presentations |
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May 1 |
Student Presentations |
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May 2 |
Student Presentations |
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May 3 |
Student Presentations |
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May 8 |
Student Presentations |
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(Exam Week - May 9-15) |
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Course ends / NO
FINAL EXAM |
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Boundary conditions for choosing a topic for your Term Paper and
Presentation:
(1) The disorder must be a developmental disorder (examples of
disorders that are not available for a term paper are AlzheimerÕs,
ParkinsonÕs, ALS).
(2) There must be a substantial literature from which to choose
your bibliography.
(3) There must be at least one animal (i.e., non-human)
experimental model of the disorder.
(4) You are strongly encouraged to choose from the following list:
Angelman
syndrome
Asperger
Syndrome
Ataxia telangiectasia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Childhood epilepsy (e.g., Tuberous sclerosis complex)
Congenital rubella syndrome
Developmental hearing loss
Developmental blindness or amblyopia
Dyslexia
Endocrine disrupters (e.g., dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, bisphenol A)
Familial Periodic Paralyses
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal methamphetamine, cocaine, or nicotine exposure
Fragile X
Learning impairment
Mental Retardation, including Trisomy 21
(Down Syndrome)
Mercury or Lead exposure
Rett Syndrome
Schizophrenia
Spina Bifida
Tourette
Syndrome
Traumatic Brain Injury and spinal cord injury
Williams Syndrome
(5) You may wish to began at the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke website:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/disorder_index.htm
(6) 5 references must be provided as a NYU PubMed link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?otool=nyulib